There is a huge problem in the online marketing community – especially under the umbrella of what is known as Search Engine Optimization.
Hipster sheep doesn’t care about your online marketing.
Like most industries, we have a few “industry leaders” who are well known for their forward thinking and innovative ideas. And, like in most other industries, these men and women have developed a rather large following (as well they should). Unfortunately, the problem lies not in these folks, but in the people that follow them and take every single word they say as the gospel truth.
Unlike other industries – including paid search where most of what a person states can be easily tested – the SEO community is built largely upon hypothesis. Now, you can argue this all you want, but the truth is the truth, and while as a community we have gotten really good at understanding how search engines operate, most of what we “know” is actually a collection of educated guesses.
I admit, when I first started in the industry I made the mistake of taking the words of top experts as gold. Over the years, however, I have come to understand that the opinions of these people are simply that: opinions. And opinions need to be tested.
Blindly following has never gotten a community very far. history has proven that over and over again.
Today a new hep cat to the SEO community posted the following to Twitter:
First SEO truth I have learned: Don’t believe everything other people say.
— Jeremy Waters (@JWtheBrewer) February 4, 2013
And this is an SEO truth. Quite possibly the most important SEO truth you can learn.
Learn the best practices. Follow the industry leaders, they are in that position for a reason. But for the love of all things, question EVERYTHING!
The Buddha understood that. And if a new SEO can understand that, there is no reason the rest of us shouldn’t as well.
@jmloquist The Buddha also said, “Investigate and find your own truth. Question everything.” #BuddhismInSEO #SEOInBuddhism
— Jeremy Waters (@JWtheBrewer) February 4, 2013
If you enjoyed this or any of my other posts, follow me on twitter and like the Zen Search Marketing facebook page.