Key words to watch for: Meta-tags, Site Juice, Internet Surveys, SEO (Search Engine Optimality) Tools, Loaded Graphic, Digital Content, Embedding
First a very important related question for anyone interested in reading…
How can I learn from information that is third party and is already being implemented as an industry practice?
For example, you realize Facebook is big in year 2006, it isn’t too late to get in, but there already have been three years of third party developments.
Why do I cite Facebook as the example, because this story too started in 2003. Three guys who started a Search Engine Optimality service called “SEOmoz” with Matthew Inman. If you not familiar with Search Engine Optimization Tools, here's what you need to know... Google runs on bringing searches on the top by a ranking algorithm that is based on how many web pages are linked to any site. This concept is called "site juice" (Webcomics Weekly). For example, if some users “AwesomeMusic.com is awesome”, then for every page with a mention and a link to that website, that increases the site's site juice. Add Twitter, MySpace, Facebook, and think anything that can have key word links and can increase site juice.
Some of SEOmoz.org’s founders, like Matthew Inman, created a site called Mingle2.com, which pissed off Google because they “Quote and Quote” manipulated Google search engine by embedding hidden code in graphics related to online quizzes. Meaning people took quizzes about “How many Justin Biebers can you beat up,” then posted a graphic showing a rating on how well they did on their web pages on services like Facebook, these embedded graphic posts increased Mingle2.com site juice. Google got mad and booted Mingle2.com off of their ranking system. Nonetheless, Matthew Inman through quizzes and art made a reported $500,000 last year (Webcomics Weekly).
Okay some things to learn from this. Many successful web cartoonists are actually connected to technology because they themselves come from tech backgrounds. Matthew Inman considers himself a web cartoonist even though there is some debate about this claim by some leading cartoonist. Inman may be struggling with being an artist but he understood the lost art of keywords and meta-tags. The embedding of code into a type of game achievement is brilliant, and I believe that many marketing companies may not be using the same techniques. This means that if your forming a start-up this might be key to good marketing.
Also note, a friend of mine told me that Google can not change their system too radically because Google has sold search engine tools and a search engine culture so SEO tools should be good for years to come if not evolve into a more standard practice. My friend was offered an SEO job in 2005, and reluctantly turned it down because he didn’t like the compensation for the work.
SEOmoz.org’s services are not cheap, but when look at the site’s users such as Disney and Facebook, I think the buzz about this company and it’s tools is not something to blink at.
Something’s to look into…
Research the psychology of game achievements.
Research how SEO tools could help or hurt your business.
Reference:
Webcomics Weekly (2011, Jan 6) Webcomics Weekly #75 - Sour Oats http://ww.libsyn.com/webcomics-weekly-75-sour-oats
Insightful discussion about Search Engine Optimization. This particular technique is becoming an art among websites and their programmers. Interesting use of examples to prove your point!
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