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- Sphinn It!
Went Hot: June 3, 2008 - 3:07 pm
Posted By: DavidWallace 95 days ago
Topic Type: News Story (Jump to http://www.searchenginejournal.com) my network
Category: SEO
10 Comments
Who Sphunn This Topic?
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tamar
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Comments
This is a solid article and I'm pleased to see a lot of people weigh in on things as they have here. It's clear that in our industry more than any other, social networking through forums, blogs, networks like Sphinn, etc. are all key to being successful.
I disagree with how some conclusions were drawn but in general, it's a good topic and nicely delivered article. For sure, "real seo's" (whatever that is) do need support for their work and they find the forums community that best fits their personality, needs, expertise, and comfort zone.
I sort of skimmed the article, but I would have to agree that SEO forums are more or less a second-rate source of SEO information.
The only that still has some valuable insight in my opinion is webmasterworld.com
Just my two cents.
With the growing number of semi-decent SEO blogs, I honestly don't think so.
Well, I must beg to differ. I'm a Cre8asite junkie and honestly couldn't get on without the folks there. But, then, Cre8asite is much more than 'just an SEO forum'. It offers total Internet business support in a really unique way. (disclosure: I got made a mod there a couple of months ago, but only after a long history of participation there.) So, I'd have to say, if the forum grows and changes to encompass a broader variety of topics, just as SEO has done, there's a very good place for it.
I started reading about SEO on sites like searchengineforums.com and webmasterworld.com
I still post on them to this day, and on several others.
I like to read a mix of forums, news and analysis sites and blogs.
Of course forums are needed, otherwise they would shut down. No one is spending that kind of time, effort and expense to run a site no one visits. Times have changed though. For one thing blogs/social sites have given people more choice. That has thinned out the crowds, especially the more experienced members. As the article shows, there is less activity per venue.
However the SEO/SEM/SMO industry has also grown significantly and with rising salaries this is a trend we can expect to see continue. This is also shown in the article as site membership is up across the board *despite* the wider choice in venues.
We should recognise that there is a diversity in experience. Some forums allow newbies to enter and feel comfortable where they would be more hesitant to comment here at Sphinn. I find Gab's comment in the article a curious oxymoron "But don’t bother for education, unless you’re a newbie." I've heard this from others too. Surely that means forums *are* providing education? I started in forums and I think that's the case for many of us.
I think forums cover ground for newbies well, they allow people to ask the "obvious" questions which are glossed over at other venues. More importantly they can also ask questions directly related to their own site or situation. That is crucial for those teaching themselves to promote their own business.
Lastly there is community. Cre8asite and other venues offer this well, as Miriam says above, they offer support. It's more than just reading the latest news, it's discussing the implications with other members. The success of Sphinn is testiment to that.
Forum's aren't dying anytime soon.
Eventhough I seldom visits my forum sites nowadays..I still think that SEO forum sites are still very relelvant and useful..^^ it serves as a training ground for new Internet Marketers and the likes.
I blog, moderate on SEW and have 10 years in SEO but in my opinion, forums are invaluable and especially in a "search agency" setting. It's much easier answering a client's question when you've already answered it several times in the forums.
I believe that there will always be a need for SEO related forums. Too much one sided information on seo blogs leads new webmasters to places where they can get more input from different people. This is not just about seo. Forums in general seem to gain popularity. Problem is so many once great forums have lost their appeal over the years. I think that Aaron did a good thing having an SEO Book Forum with paid access. The old Rick Schwartz private domain name forum works well as well. The key would be to have a forum that makes money and using that money to enforce guidelines without allowing your own bias to interfere with natural conversations while keeping non productive posts out.