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Went Hot: July 8, 2008 - 1:55 pm
Posted By: UtahSEOpro 91 days ago
Topic Type: News Story (Jump to http://www.winningtheweb.com)
Category: SEM Industry
15 Comments
Went Hot: July 8, 2008 - 1:55 pm
Posted By: UtahSEOpro 91 days ago
Topic Type: News Story (Jump to http://www.winningtheweb.com)
Category: SEM Industry
15 Comments
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Comments
So you're saying... If you can't programme you can't attain "rockstar" status?
While I agree that knowledge of programming and design are great skills for a SEO it's not essential. Many of the technical aspects of SEO can be easily learned. In my view it's the creative/strategic aspects that make the difference.
See also: http://www.seomoz.org/blog/developer-to-seo
It's more than a great skill - it makes our jobs easier, faster, and more productive. I couldn't imagine trying to do seo work for a client (or myself) with out knowing enough to do it myself or at least enough to ask a "pro" what I need.
That means your going to need the basics at least.
"So you're saying... If you can't programme you can't attain "rockstar" status?"
I'd say it - not necessarily be a programmer, but still. It's important to know something substantial about the actual files and documents that you're editing in order to make sure that you're not only NOT getting in your own way, but to make sure that you're aware of all of the possibilities afforded you within a certain website's constructs.
Personal opinion, of course, but I think that knowing the basics will get you by, but going above and beyond is what being a rockstar is all about, IMO.
How can you be an seo if you can't program html and css?
That's like saying you're an auto mechanic, but you don't know how an engine works.
As a non-programmer myself, I wouldn't say you needed to be a full-on developer to call yourself an SEO; and being one doesn't automatically make you a better SEO. But I've just got to laugh at people who claim to be SEOs but can't tell a title tag from a div class from a hole in their head. If you've never written code, you're not an SEO -- not because SEO is about coding, but because you don't *really* know how Web pages work.
Just what IS all this 'SEO Rockstar' nonsense? There's people out there in all industries who spend their time branding themselves as experts; there's people out there just doing the damn work.
All this 'rockstar' stuff is utterly irrelevant and unhelpful. It doesn't help the SEM industry that it has attracted the kind of fanboys that were best ignored at The Smiths gigs in the 80s.
markymark - amen brother
markymark,
A lot of times "branding themselves as experts" is necessary in order to find the "damn work". So really I don't think it's as irrelevant as you say. A band like U2 is obviously more accomplished than a garage band that does the work but doesn't get anywhere.
Wow, that hit a nerve. @markymark kudos for mentioning The Smiths. @gyutae I think @markymark made an important distinction, but it needn't be black and white. Fame is not the equivalent of quality. For example, Nirvana is great and mega-famous, Pavement is great and took a long time to get retrospective respect. Maybe Nirvana is more "accomplished" but only if fame is important to you. Look at Fugazi- they made a point of not enabling their fame, because they thought it would destroy the quality of their music... being anti-fame is part of their aesthetic.
Back to the blog post: Great blog post! But I don't think every great SEO wants to be famous or speak at conferences or run their own company. I wouldn't mind at least two of those myself, lol, but I think there is more than one kind of personality in the SEO business... some people would rather be behind the scenes and just do the work-
So neither of you has to be right... lol. Different strokes for different folks.
But for those who want to become the next SEO superstar, this is a great blog post.
Being an SEO superstar is like being the king of all geeks - do I really really want that? :)
When I saw this title I immediately geared up for a blog post calling it out. I generally agree with markymark on the whole rockstar crap, The majority of the best I konw don't even have blogs.
Then I read the post and it wasn't about branding yourself as a rockstar, it's more of a logical path to take to gain experience and get better. Obviously there are many other ways to become great at SEO, but this is indeed one of them.
Ok, only thing I have to say on this has to do with the comments, not the post... HTML and CSS are not programming.
That's all. :)
@mvandemar - that's what I meant too: You don't need to be a programmer, but you do need to know HTML/CSS. Sorry if I didn't express that well.
@TheMadHat - ditto. Some of the best SEO practitioners I know are off the map. They do the work, they don't blog about the work. This constant harping about rockstars and A-listers and achieving status -- as opposed to what it takes to kick ass at the job -- that's what's getting old.