SEO is Nothing but Karma
Monday, October 30th, 2006;
-- Andy Beal |
By Steven Bradley
Yep karma. Not the spiritual “Law of Karmaâ€? central to Eastern Philosophy, but the Americanized version of karma practiced by Earl Hickey every Thursday night. Do good things and good things happen. That’s really all it takes to succeed as an SEO. Karma. And maybe a little hard work.
“Ok you new age hippie freak. I’ll bite. How is karma supposed to help my site get more search traffic?”
By building a website that’s useful and usable. Give people something they want and give it to them for free. Maybe it’s information or some web tool that makes someone’s life easier. Give away something entertaining. You’ve been dying to star in a video anyway. Just make it something of value. Add to the web instead of creating more noise. That’s all good wouldn’t you say? Create something of value. Do good things.
A funny thing happens when you create something useful and give it away. People like it. They like your content, they like your site, and they like you. They like it so much they tell their friends about it. If they have a website they link to your useful content so everyone else can see how helpful it is.
Know what else? Because you didn’t try to manipulate them, the search engines like you too. They like that you didn’t try to stuff or hide keywords everywhere and have given them something relevant to a query. They’ll like you so much they’ll return your pages for semantically related queries. All that natural writing was good. MSN might not care that much, but when has Microsoft been accused of doing good. They don’t get karma. But they will like those links you’ve gained. Google will like it. They tell us they don’t do evil, which isn’t exactly the same as doing good, but it’s close.
Want to know another way karma can help? You can participate in the community that is the web and do good there too. Answer questions people leave on forums or join in the conversation on industry blogs. The relationships you build with your helpful advice will have karma taking notice. Relationships with people in your industry who’ll thank you with relevant links. Search engines really like when you help topical communities I guess. Shows them how good you are and how much this karma thing is part of you.
As you help more people they’ll introduce you to even more people, who’ll introduce you to even more people. Pretty soon all those people will come to see you as an expert, as an authority in your field. All the other authorities will get curious about you and check you out. “Who is this new expert come to join our rank?” Your genuine offering of good advice shows you worthy of gaining membership in their inner circle of influence.
Still want more? Know those clients you helped with your services and products. You did a good job, right? And gave them value in return for the money they spent? Those clients are happy with you and will send more clients your way. Some of them have websites too, and will throw a few links your way for good measure.
All joking aside if you thought any of the above was mildly amusing and continuing on if you didn’t, it really is true that doing good is successful SEO. We all know it boils down to content and links. The first one gets you the second and the second drives search traffic to the first. Doing good stuff is about building a reputation and a brand. It’s about creating something link worthy that builds links naturally. That good stuff is about building contacts within the social structure of the web. Contacts that will provide links and help seed your viral campaign.
That good is creating value so when people find you they have a reason to trust you. Good by building a site that loaded quickly and provided a positive experience. The people who’s trust you’ve earned are much more likely to hand over their credit card information and write testimonials and positive reviews all over the web. More links and more reputation for you.
That good information you left does lead people to stay on your site longer and revisit more often. It will leave traffic patterns that prove to show search engines you haven’t just figured out how to game their algorithms. It’ll show them they can trust your site when they recommend it in search results.
Sure, karma isn’t the only path to success and sometimes it can take a painfully long time getting back to you. But it can return to you a lot more than you have to put in. And what it gives back has a tendency to last. It may take a little while to get that karmic momentum moving in your favor, but once it is it will push, pull, and drag you along with it. And all you had to do was genuinely offer something of value to the world and help those you came in contact with. That and some hard work to get it all done.
[The above article is a submission for Marketing Pilgrim’s Search Engine Marketing Scholarship Contest. Each Monday in October, entries will be published and the most popular article of the week will qualify for the $5,000 grand prize. If you’d like to submit an entry, please view the contest entry-requirements and guidelines.]
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October 30th, 2006 at 12:19 pm
[…] The main function of the web is to connect. The web connects computers, it connects networks of computers, and most importantly it connects people. It’s from this very social nature of the web that that springs the future of SEO. Today’s SEO understands that formulaic manipulation will no longer achieve results except in the least competitive of markets and since the function of the web is social in nature the form required to profit from it must also be social in nature. The true power of seo today lies in making the social web work for you. Throw in a little bit of karmic SEO and you’ll have the ability to bring traffic readily to many sites. […]
October 30th, 2006 at 6:26 pm
[…] steve is entering a contest for writing an SEO (search engine optimization) article and needs to get as many views as possible. so if you all could click on this link SEO Karma and scroll thru the page. don’t have to read it if you don’t want to, just need unique views. […]
October 30th, 2006 at 10:19 pm
Good article, Good Karma is especially important in and also for an industry that the public has as trust issue with.
Maybe help out your local church or non profit also. I got a small amount of business out of doing that and networked with many very good people.
October 30th, 2006 at 11:23 pm
[…] Improve Search traffic to your website through karma […]
October 31st, 2006 at 2:20 am
[…] I also find it interesting that many of the rules seem in line with my own thoughts on karma and generally doing good online since the web can be a place that easily calls out posers and others seeking to sell snake oil. A good part of SMO seems to build around the idea of being a good citizen on the web. […]
October 31st, 2006 at 2:56 am
Thanks Sam. I guess I didn’t mention it, but you’re right in that being a good web citizen can only help the industry as a whole given the sometimes bad reputation it has. I think we all know the value of SEO, but many outside the industry don’t and see SEOs as only wanting to take their money.
Thanks for the comment and glad you enjoyed the post.
October 31st, 2006 at 5:35 am
[…] Be a good citizen of the web (to build good karma) […]
October 31st, 2006 at 3:29 pm
[…] Are they the same? Here is a gentleman who makes a very good point for the positives of “doing good”. As I mentioned in a message to him, we just made “Do Good” the core value of everything we do at Area. If you have thoughts please share them. If you are a spamming robot, well, I’ll be deleting you from “pending comments” over the coming hours. […]
October 31st, 2006 at 3:39 pm
[…] Want the secret to great rankings? According to Steven Bradley, it’s karma. Not the spiritual “Law of Karma” central to Eastern Philosophy, but the Americanized version of karma practiced by Earl Hickey every Thursday night. […]
October 31st, 2006 at 9:35 pm
This is really terrific advice and not just for the web. Karma is a truly magical thing - especially if used for good. Helping others, and the world, without expecting anything in return, usually leads to great personal reward!
November 1st, 2006 at 10:27 pm
very well said
November 2nd, 2006 at 10:00 pm
[…] The Golden Rule of SEO 10 Shortcuts for Successful SEO Search Engine Optimization Overview Are You Making These Costly Mistakes with Your Search Marketing? The Ultimate Internet Marketing Article The Power of SEO The Five Pillars of Social Media Marketing Damn you Andy! How to win Marketing Pilgrim’s Search Marketing Contest SEO is Nothing but Karma Aaron Says… Do you still optimize your site for the search engines? Shhhh!….the dirty little secret about sem seo certification What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up? How non Techies Can Win In SEO The SEO Article You SHOULD Read – 5 Reasons Accountability Matters Want to rank top in Google? Wear Nike shoes. The 6 Most Important OnPage Optimization Factors Strategize your Pay per Click Campaign for Maximum Profits in 7 Easy Steps Free beer inside! Two Years Before the Mast: Tales of In-House SEO […]
November 3rd, 2006 at 12:58 am
[…] Improve Search traffic to your website through karma […]
November 3rd, 2006 at 11:37 pm
[…] Improve Search traffic to your website through karma […]
November 4th, 2006 at 10:51 pm
I totally believe in Karma and it all sounds good and we should all be participating!
November 5th, 2006 at 12:20 am
very nice article!!! We should not play with Search Engines!! Use SEO wisely
November 5th, 2006 at 9:12 am
Very good article. There’s lots that people try and do, but this is very good primer on how all websites should work.
November 5th, 2006 at 9:27 am
He’s so right about how SEO should be done. SEO is an art and not a “2(x+y)=2x+2y” formula. Its just something which needs to be done passively. Really loved the article. Gracias Brad !!
November 5th, 2006 at 10:44 am
Thanks everyone,
Glad you’re all enjoying the article. I do believe in Karma and think the way forward requires a more holistic approach to SEO than trying to game the search engines or worrying about algorithmic details.
There will always be some thought for the algorithm and we all still need to do our research of the industry and in order to target the best keywords. Most everything that’s come before is still important to understand.
But many of the tactics have changed and are changing. Those who want to succeed tomorrow will need to build social contacts and generally be a good citizen online.
Do good things.
November 5th, 2006 at 8:00 pm
Very good article! I think you’ve really hit the nail on the head with getting your site known.
November 5th, 2006 at 8:12 pm
Very good post! We tell our clients this all the time, and invariably, an impatient customer will wonder why they haven’t moved 20 pages in 30 days - this karma takes awhile, but the patience pays off in longetivity.
November 5th, 2006 at 8:47 pm
[…] However, for long term results, regardless of competitiveness, Karma comes into play. We preach it everyday, and it is absolutely tru. You can read more about this theory over on Marketing Pilgrim. […]
November 6th, 2006 at 6:03 am
Wit, wisdom and words well-crafted - who could ask for anything more.
Nicely accomplished -
Thanks ~
Jessan Dunn Otis
Writer|Editor
“The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.” ~ Mark Twain
||collaborate||communicate||create||(c)
November 8th, 2006 at 12:17 am
[…] One of my initial thoughts about the contest was that having a good title would lead to a lot of clicks from people who landed on the general page linking to all the articles. I named the article SEO is Nothing but Karma, though after it had been submitted I wished I had named it SEO Ain’t Nothing But Karma. I don’t know if it’s a big difference, but I think the word, or non-word, “ain’t” makes the title a little more interesting. I also wish I’d stuck to my usual format of keeping the first letter of every word capitalized. […]
November 9th, 2006 at 2:48 am
Thats a great one. I liked it and truly believe in it. I think the Title is too good and nothing suits better than it.
Just wanna say “Keep Writing great articles or thoughts like this.
Regards
Puneet M
November 10th, 2006 at 4:58 am
Its really a good thought provoking article.
Great
Keep good things going on.
regards
rajay
November 20th, 2006 at 7:33 am
could not agree with the article more. since people always flock towards where they can get value from, the best way of succeeding in SEO, as in any business is, by providing value to your clients and the SEO community..(though i am just starting in the field of SEO, i have taken the liberty to apply a general rule to SEO as well..)
The world is designed in such a way that you might have something which you may not be able to use much by yourself, but when you give it to someone for whom it will be precious, you in turn might get what you have been searching the world over..it’s all give and get..
January 16th, 2007 at 9:32 am
[…] It’s a really nice concept for me and I’ve been following it for quite a while now. The concept is actually inspired by Steven Bradley’s article called “SEO is Nothing but Karma“. That actually lit the spark for me. Anyway, don’t forget to rate it “5″ !! Just kidding ! It’s all up to you. Anyway, see ya around. Share and Enjoy:These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. […]
January 24th, 2007 at 3:15 am
I got to hear about it now….thats why i would like to write that its great…and had a look at in here for a long time…
Thats good …
Regards
American Truck Buyer Online
January 25th, 2007 at 6:37 am
[…] In October he posted about how it’s better to do good things than bad. He wrote, By building a website that’s useful and usable. Give people something they want and give it to them for free. Maybe it’s information or some web tool that makes someone’s life easier. Give away something entertaining. […]
June 30th, 2007 at 5:23 am
[…] It’s a really nice concept for me and I’ve been following it for quite a while now. The concept is actually inspired by Steven Bradley’s article called “SEO is Nothing but Karma“. That actually lit the spark for me. Anyway, don’t forget to rate it “5″ !! Just kidding ! It’s all up to you. Anyway, see ya around. […]
July 17th, 2007 at 12:32 am
Very nice article!
keep it up! Thanks!
September 9th, 2007 at 9:36 am
this one is good… i thank you for this…
im new on seo…
good luck for me
January 27th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
[…] The true power of seo today lies in making the social web work for you. Throw in a little bit of karmic SEO and you’ll have the ability to bring traffic readily to many […]
January 27th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
[…] also find it interesting that many of the rules seem in line with my own thoughts on karma and generally doing good online since the web can be a place that easily calls out posers and others seeking to sell snake oil. A […]
January 27th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
[…] you inquisitive or philosophical. Would you rather put someone in their place or do you prefer to do good things for others. It ultimately has to come from you. Don’t agree with me or anyone else if you think […]
January 27th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
[…] is the SEM Scholarship contest and while I usually don’t participate in contests I did submit SEO is Nothing but Karma as an entry to this one. I wanted to talk a little about this particular contest and why I entered […]
January 27th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
[…] clicks from people who landed on the general page linking to all the articles. I named the article SEO is Nothing but Karma, though after it had been submitted I wished I had named it SEO Ain’t Nothing But Karma. I […]