Oct 01 2009
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) sucks. Royally.
The theory and process of SEO doesn't actually suck. When done right, it can be extremely gratifying. But therein lie the operative words: when done right.
The real reason SEO sucks is because there are so many people out there selling unsuspecting site owners absolute crap. They call you up and tell you your site is ranking at #40 when really you're at #2 (that actually happened to a client of ours). Or they email you and tell you that they noticed your site doesn't rank at all for some keyword phrase that people wouldn't search for to begin with and that they can get you ranking #1 for it in a matter of days or weeks. Or, they tell you that they can submit your website to over 1000 search engines for some ridiculously low fee. Or worse yet, they tell you that they'll get your site listed on hundreds, if not thousands, of directories in order to bring your site's rankings up.
One word describes it all: SCAM.
I don't claim to know everything there is to know about SEO. Not even close. But I do know what works now (without blowing smoke up your behind). And I will know what will work in the future, because I'm learning from the most respected SEO experts in the world who keep a tab on these things. And trust me, SEO is constantly changing. But even for someone like me who runs a small web design and development studio to help small businesses, it's harder than ever to get people to see through the crap that less-than-honest "professionals" try to sell you on. I mean, why trust me any more than you can trust them?
Oh, that's right, because, we actually have clients who rank top 10, top 5 and even #1 for keywords that are relevant. I guess it's all part of the job. :)
What about you? What about SEO frustrates you?