Is SEO Enough to Bring the Traffic You Need?
I have done SEO work on scores of websites. All those websites achieved the goal of better SERP (in most cases 1st and 2nd page placement). However the most common complaint I hear is there is still not enough traffic to the site. After taking the time and effort of doing all the proper things to achieve SEO it turns out that traffic to a site can still be disappointing. While front page exposure on search engines is the main goal of SEO, this by itself, in some cases, does not guarantee enough traffic to achieve success.
In the first ten years or so of the Internet the best way of getting traffic to a website was by doing On-Page & Off-Page (minus Social Media Marketing) SEO. However it is starting to look like 1st page on Google doesn’t cut the mustard like it use to. So what’s the deal? I still know that being on the 1st page of search engines is a huge benefit but why isn’t it bringing the tons of traffic we all envision?
Hears my speculative guess. “Social Media“
There is so much social media activity going on these days that people no longer have to depend on search engines to find what they are looking for. By being involved in Twitter, FaceBook, Squidoo, LinkedIn, etc. one has access to thousands of links and other forms of information that lead to what they might be looking for. Instead of using a search engine, people find their way to products, services, and information VIA the social network.
What do you think? Is there still value in SEO for the search engines. Will social media take over so completely that search engines become fossils of the Internet? Is Social Media networking more valuable to a website then search engine results placement? Should we coin a new term (SMO) – Social Media Optimization?
Jump on board lets hear what you have to say.
Internet Web Hosting | Internet SEO | Internet Web Design
September 22nd, 2009 at 6:05 PM
I agree with the social networking aspect to a degree. I think a Business Web System should enhance that external “Push Marketing” campaigns.
I tend to reflect on how life teaches us to keep it in moderation. Keeping a balance of the Marketing pieces makes good business sense.
I saw a shift happen about two years ago in Web Development Services. They were headed down a very costly road for small businesses. In Essence, it made me plan and than assist in engineering a Web Product that would counteract what was coming down the pike. To which we did and beautifully, I might add. We combined a fully functioning Social Networking, Pull Marketing, Ecommerce, Email Marketing Engine, Polls, secured system that could be tailored fitted to any unique request (gift registry, distributor to dealer inventory hook etc.). The Web System markets beautifully for clients and cuts a lot of excessive fat off many features that are paid out to third parties. Like a built in email, newsletter, mailing list system, crm, shopping cart, polls, surveys, blogging, cms and etc.
I implanted my techniques, because this is what came down the pike …the same breath-taking eyecandy web templates being sold to the masses…there goes brand equity. Cheap dynamic web canned software that was seriously lacking, in Marketing Infrastructure, constant “Errors” and too many “wannabe programmers and volunteers to the rescue” and a mess when it comes to add a module that will work with all the layers of different developers ideaology of how programming should be.. So, Alas the Billion Dollar Revenue stream for countless people started and the Small businesses started looking for the ehow.com article on “How to grow a grove of Magic Money Tree’s”, in their back yards. This is why “Pull Marketing” built into the very foundation of the Business Web System is so important with “Pull Marketing” . It attracts “Qualified Leads” not just random traffic. Anyone can get millions of hits from ppc, email blasts and etc but are they Qualified Leads. Is it people that are actively looking for your product or your service? As you can see, getting the Business Web system balanced with the proper infrastructure and marketing functionality is very much possible and proven. If you noticed lately, many businesses are starting to look at making their business sites more of a social network. They are still unfortunately lacking with the marketing infrastructure.
As the Small Business owner, your only job was to provide the content and graphics to the designer. You probably spent a lot of time focusing on what message you wanted to send out to make your buyers come to you and buy. The goal was/is to put out the message that will make people buy. Before you knew it the site was live and no hits. That is where the road block occurred. Since nobody knew on your team about managed hosted networks, network and web infrastructure, all the hard work of designing that perfect eyecandy was never going to fly. Since, there was no communication from buyers and either your Web Developer made a suggestion or you jumped in line with everyone else, because it seemed like the way to go. That’s ok, this scenario is played out every day
There are not a lot of individuals that will know to take a intricate look at the host site, like what if the webhost servers were blocking the search engines or dropping packets or leaked dns. Nobody stopped to ask why the Bread and Butter Website wasn’t working from the foundation, not the cosmetic exterior. You can’t hang a window box, without building the house first, right?
Once the Web System is positioned properly, it’s time to use pokers. This is where the ppc’s, marketing campaigns and etc come into play. As you can see, you will not have to spend as much on external links, if your Web System is properly implemented. This way, your marketing mix can be truly amplified and get the results that you have been waiting for.
I hope this was enlightening and gave alittle bit of hope or direction. Especially when picking out a marketing company. A marketing company or “guru” should be able to effectively market your services and products without having your Company name listed. IF they are that good and can prove it, than you are truly in the hands of a Pro!
Thank you for posting this discussion, I’ve been waiting to get that off my chest for a very long time.
Monica Crissman
IDO Web Zone Support Services
*Your One Stop Technology Shop*
1357 River Road
Eugene, OR 97404
541-689-3245 phone
541-689-4916 fax
webzone@ido.net
http://www.idowebzone.com (Parts Store and National Technology Repair Lab. In-House, On-Site and Remote Repairs)
http://www.ido.net (Managed Network Services and Engineering of Database, Software, Web and Utility Applications)
September 23rd, 2009 at 11:45 AM
I agree to some extent.
While your newly coined term “SMO” seems to be the direction, at the end of the day, google, yahoo etc. still hold all the cards. Meaning that traditional seo will still hold it’s weight as the big serps plug and play their flavor of the day whether it be twitter, squidoo, facebook etc. and maintain control of how results are handed to the search.
In my opinion, why it is important to optimize your site for your market, it is equally important to stay on top of the SE’s flavor of the day so that you can stay in the game. Creating keyword rich content etc. on those platforms to
1: ride the tide of those platforms to take advantage of the influx or bulk of results it is currently owning, because we all know that the SE’s play favortism in rank to certain sites over others regardless of domain age or authority
2: providing links back to your site, while building your authority and brand by being associated and participating in the new flavor of the day,
3: extending your reach and means of which potential customers can find you.
Sure, some of these flavors may come and go, but it still helps your site that stays build authority, raise it’s backlink score, and gain multiple avenues of exposure.
I think where most people go wrong is right at the start, keyword research.
Although that nice broad KW looks good, has ton’s of monthly searches, their still kicking the tires. Business should focus on getting the broad terms on their mailing list and selling to the buyer keywords.
That’s all I got for now.
Jason
September 28th, 2009 at 2:22 PM
Monica
Thanks for the comment, lots of interesting info to digest.
October 16th, 2009 at 6:28 AM
I really liked reading your post about this, and I saw a few others as well – very informative and useful information without a bunch of BS!
I’ll be sure to give this URL to some friends
Thanks Again