Sphinn - Widget Optimization Demystified

47
Sphinn It!

Widget Optimization Demystified - 16 Experts Weigh In

Went Hot: July 29, 2008 - 10:39 am
Posted By: dsnyder 341 days ago
Topic Type: News Story (Jump to http://www.ignitesocialmedia.com)
Category: Link Building

Widgetbait gone bad sparked intense controversy about the utilization of anchor text within widgets. I decided to ask some of the leading experts in the industry their thoughts on the following situation, in an attempt to unearth what is kosher and what is not.

8 Comments

Who Desphunn This (1)

Comments

from DarrenSlatten 341 days ago # - show/hide this comment

Votes: -2 | Vote:

+ -

I Desphunn this for a few reasons.

First, because the title is misleading. I don't feel that this article provided useful information on "widget optimization" and I don't think anyone who contributed to this article can be called an "expert." Don't get me wrong... I'm not saying they're not qualified to voice an opinion--I'm just saying I don't like how freely the word "expert" is thrown around. Besides... is there really any such thing as a "widget optimization expert"? Seems to me that the only true experts would be working for Google.

Second, because this post commits a logical fallacy (appeal to celebrity) that is a pet peeve of mine. It basically implies that Google's search engine is influenced by the opinions of popular SEO industry people. Unfortunately, Google's algorithm and spam policies don't change, depending on how the SEO industry feels about something. If you want to find the line between what is or isn't acceptable, then you should be asking Matt Cutts.

Third, because I wrote a much better article about this already, but it never went hot on Sphinn, so now I'm just plain bitter about it. :.(

from richardbaxterseo 341 days ago #

Votes: 1 | Vote:

+ -

Hi Darren, bit late now but I'll give your article a Sphinn. How about that?

from DarrenSlatten 340 days ago # - show/hide this comment

Votes: -1 | Vote:

+ -

:.( *sniffle*

Okaaaay.

from dsnyder 340 days ago #

Votes: 1 | Vote:

+ -

I think the article just gives people confused about the widget optimization concept a clearer perspective on what is and isn't acceptable in the eyes of people that work in different markets and roles in our industry. Basically giving an informed perspective on the concept.

Sorry your article didnt go hot. This is a social news site, and the social outweighs the news sometimes.

But a desphinn brother? Because you don't like someone as crappy as me being called an expert? I'll have him edit me out if it will make you happy. I mean I am hoping this whole thing is a joke, because people in this industry have been screwing with me for the last three days and I am about to break.

from dsnyder 340 days ago #

Votes: 2 | Vote:

+ -

@Darren I know it was a joke now, cause no way a dude that calls himself "The World's Greatest SEO" would actually take issue with people being labeled experts.

I think the expert title by the way was not based on widget optimization, but rather on link building. But still it is subjective. I think prowess should denote the "expert" label, and I am not sure that there are many (although I know there are some) better link experts than those questioned in this article.

No matter what though thinking about it now it is your right to desphinn whatever you want since this is a social news site based on votes.

I do find it slightly bizzare that someone labeling themselves "The Worlds Greatest SEO" takes issue with people appealing to celebrity.

Also I really hope you don't take everything Matt Cutts says as fact.

from DarrenSlatten 340 days ago # - show/hide this comment

Votes: -1 | Vote:

+ -

Dave,

Yikes, slow down! I don't know why you're taking this so seriously/personally, but I assure you... there's no need for that. I came up with a couple of reasons for why I Desphunn this, but in the end, it all came down to this:

I wrote an article about widget bait guidelines.
Few people cared or took the time to read it.
Someone else wrote an article about widget bait guidelines.
It went hot on Sphinn and everyone loved it.
I come along and criticize it much more harshly than it deserves, simply because I'm resentful--not of the article itself, but of the industry that chose it over mine.

Here, Dave... let me use an analogy to explain. I'm like the new kid at school who showed up halfway through the school year. I'm a really good baseball player, but no one ever picks me to be on their team, because they don't know me. So while everyone else plays baseball, I sit on the sidelines and throw rocks at them. Do they deserve to have rocks thrown at them? No. Are there other kids, playing other games, that are more-deserving of a rock to the face? Sure, but I ignore them because their games don't interest me. Eventually, the entire baseball team jumps me and beats me to within an inch of my life.

Anyways... I really wasn't trying to make personal attacks, nor was I trying to be taken too seriously. I thought my :.( face would have revealed the tongue-in-cheek-ness of my comment, but I guess I didn't make that obvious enough. (BTW... my baseball analogy was also tongue-in-cheek, but the only clue there was how ridiculous and unnecessary that story was.)

So yeah... no worries, Dave. I have nothing against you or anyone else who contributed to the article (well... except for maybe that Gab Goldenberg fellow).

from dsnyder 340 days ago #

Votes: 0 | Vote:

+ -

Darren,

I get it, and thats why I wrote my second comment, cuase I got too heated too fast. I am a big dumb animal, and when I feel cornered I don't reason I just tear peoples arms off. Its a sick byproduct of how I grew up.

If you are going to SES SJ I will buy you a beer to show no hard feelings.

from TheMadHat 339 days ago #

Votes: 1 | Vote:

+ -

Darren,

Let me rephrase what you meant to say.

1. You wrote an article about widget bait guidelines.
2. Few people cared or took the time to read it. (I did, and thought it was good)
3. Someone else wrote an article about what 16 other people thought about widget bait.
4. It went hot on Sphinn and everyone loved it.
5. You come along and criticize it much more harshly than it deserves, simply because you're resentful--not of the article itself, but of the industry that chose it over mine.

LMAO at #5. I almost desphunn just for the sweetness of the last line :D