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robgarner
The positive tone and advice is a bit more balanced, and big improvement. The previous language (which is still there) made SEO sound like a 100% scam. If Google wanted to really help clean up some of their spam issues, they could continue to focus more on the positive aspects of natural search optimization, just as they've done in this update. Overall, it is great to see the continued webmaster/marketer and consumer outreach, and will only help the quality of SERP's, and the search industry overall.
Shari,
GREAT article. I'm glad you wrote this column, because I had similar questions when the original series was first published. Certainly, someone like Jill Whalen shouldn't be considered a "beginner" just because she is a writer - she is obviously an advanced expert in this area. And just because someone is particularly skilled on the tech side, it doesn't automatically put them in the position to dictate holistic search strategy for a billion dollar corporation. Instead, they should be focused on maintaining tech performance and site hygiene. At the enterprise level, it is a huge job in and of itself, and may even require *mutliple* tech experts. Following the same logic, the argument could also be made that PR/communications, or market research is the most advanced form of SEO, which again doesn't really serve the conversation well.
SEO's need to start having a meaningful dialogue about understanding how all of these aspects of SEM fit in the big picture, particularly if they are at the enterprise level. The real "advanced" enterprise search engine marketer and strategist takes a holistic view of search - that means every aspect of SEO, SEA/PPC, feeds, content targeting, etc, to create a real search strategy. I mean this in a very different way from being a search generalist. I also emphasize the use of the terms "search engine marketer", "search strategy", and "SEM strategy". I have more thoughts on this in a recent column on the "Semantics of 'SEM Strategy'" over at MediaPost Search Insider, and it fits in with this dialogue. http://blogs.mediapost.com/search_insider/?p=811
Again, great article. It behooves everyone to consider the big picture for SEM, and not just debating about whether they are "advanced" or not simply as a matter of function.
Rob
Jill - I think you understand the point I was trying to make, in the context of the way the article was written. In hindsight, I probably could have cited a more relevant example of a specialist, as your expertise extends beyond just copywriting, but hopefully my point was intact.
Looking at the list, four of the cities listed in the top thirty are connected as part of the "DFW" (Dallas / Fort Worth) area. These cities listed are Plano, Garland, Dallas, and Arlington. The research may be a little bit of a stretch, because those cities (Garland, etc) do not have the highest concentration of employed search professionals, while other areas (such as Ft Worth) are not even mentioned on the list. But overall, the DFW area may be the number 1 search job market with all things considered. Here is a recent Dallas Morning News story I was interviewed for discussing the local search market (which also included a quote from Josh Gampel at Onward Search).
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/classifieds/news/jobcenter/news/stories/DN-searchengine_18emp.ART.State.Edition1.4678652.html
I Sphunn this because it is an interesting debate, but not likely sustainable. You promote your URL, and some go to search - so what? Navigational queries may increase, but the URL will never die.
Nice writeup, but what I think it would even be cooler and more useful to the search community to Sphinn the actual source link for this info. Not just this story, but all others as well.
http://searchenginestrategies.com/sanjose/awards/
Here is another link to a Google blog post that fully describes the effort:
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/helping-victims-of-cyclone-nargis.html
SEOhMy - yes, it appears from news reports it will be difficult, but once inroads are made, these organizations are ready to help (and are already providing some relief).
Matt Cutts also highlights some of the efforts here:
http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/a-few-words-about-china-and-burma/
I am going to Sphinn this one on its own.
Here is a link to the original story on CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/04/25/google.books.ap/index.html
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