The masses predict the future of SEO
We’ve all been thinking about the future of SEO for some time now. Each year new SEO predictions take a stab at the upcoming fate of algorithms , people, companies, and of course the importance of meta tags and the relevance of rankings always have to make a play somewhere.
Unfortunately I feel like I see the same predictions year after year, and for some reason there’s a sh**load of predictions that aren’t actually predictions at all – rather they’re stating things that are already happening, like “social search will become more prevalent in SEO”, or “SEOs will need to expand their expertise to stay in the game”.
What’s the big news in SEO these days? Really?
On a lighter note, I did come across a few good posts, most of which Rene LeMerle rounded up and listed right here at WebProNews’s 2009 SEO predictions, including a few of his favorite predictions.
Truthfully, I can barely write this post using “SEO” so much, because the future (and present, really) of SEO is your interpretation of finding and capitalizing on search (and even other kinds of) traffic opportunities. Of course, that is what SEO has always been, but aren’t you a little tired of people asking you to write their meta tags? If you haven’t moved beyond on-page optimization yet, you might start re-thinking your career.
A little SEO prediction horoscope fun
I also came across this search engine contest for “Busby SEO Test” going on in my search for all things SEO in 2009, and decided to have a little fun with it. Even though the Busby SEO Test page below for the Leo sign horoscopes (that showed up in a search for 2009 SEO predictions) is not in fact predicting SEO for 2009, you know what they say about horoscopes – they’re written broadly enough that anyone can project what the horoscope is saying to what’s actually going on in their lives. For example, let’s look at some of these Leo predictions in an SEO eye.
A Sample of the Leo predictions & my SEO interpretations:
garyviray December 2008 prediction:
“Expect old friends to catch up with you. Reach out and be a friend to someone.”
LL’s SEO Interpretation:
Expect people you barely knew 20 years ago to post embarrassing high school pictures of you on Facebook. Reach out and advertise to someone there and make enough money off of it to boost your recently degraded self image.
garyviray January 2009 prediction:
“ Understanding the past provides great answer to many questions. However, note that people change. Be open in extending the benefit of the doubt.”
LL’s SEO Interpretation:
Understanding the past mistakes that have gotten people in trouble with the search engines provides great answer to many questions. However, note that search engines change. Be open in tempting the benefit of the doubt.
garyviray February 2009 prediction:
“Think seriously about the ramifications of any change. Consider shifting your perception first before of others (that you are capable of).”
LL’s SEO Interpretation:
Think seriously about the conversion ramifications of any change. Consider shifting your paid ad copy first before losing a lot of money.
garyviray March 2009 prediction:
“It is too early to be making decisions and commitments. Explore your options further.”
LL’s SEO Interpretation:
It is too early to be making decisions as to whether or not SEO is definitely dead. Explore your name branding & service providing options further.”
garyviray April 2009 prediction:
“Someone must lead and someone must follow. Which will you be?”
LL’s SEO Interpretation:
(I couldn’t have said it better myself)
Interpret the rest for yourself here .
So what does it all mean?
Of course we’ll be able to see more clearly through the SEO, algorithm, people, company and meta tag clouds better in 2010 and beyond. Just don’t get your nose so deep into optimizing meta tags all the time that you don’t see the bigger search traffic opportunities on the horizon.
In the meantime, here’s a slightly mind-bending video to incubate that thought.
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