IM Convo: Will there ALWAYS be a place for SEO
December 9, 2008 2 Comments
I was communicating with a co-worker today, over instant messenger and we got into an interesting conversation about the future of SEO. I thought I’d share it with you and get your feedback as well.
Coworker:
Do you think there will ALWAYS be a place for SEO?
Jeremy Rivera:
I only see SEO becoming a more general field
Coworker:
One day we are all going to wake up, conduct a search on Google and find:
- PPC Listings
- Two video listings
- Two – four static images
- Local listings + map
- News Results
- Book Results
- Blog Results
- Organic Results
Jeremy Rivera:
most businesses are going to continue looking for additional revenue streams.
Coworker:
So SEO will become a side dish to the main course; whatever that happens to be.
Jeremy Rivera:
Having an even more diversified set of items on the results page only increases the need for an expert who can guide a business to what is and isn’t successful. Just because it’s pictures/video/local doesn’t mean it’s not SEO.
Coworker:
Yes I agree BUT that isn’t SEO per se.
Jeremy Rivera:
You’re narrowing SEO to be JUST organic rankings. I don’t agree with that definition of SEO: Search Engine Optimization covers all aspects of results appearing on the Search engine’s site.
Coworker:
I know I am narrowing it down. I am doing so because now an SEO needs to have graphic design skills or image editing skills, video taking / editing skills and so on. An SEO will need to be an all in one and at that time would that really mean I’m an SEOer?
Jeremy Rivera:
It could just mean a categorization/specialization Content Seo, Video Seo, Image SEO
Coworker:
Nice take on the topic. Would prove interesting.
Jeremy Rivera:
I think that SEO will continue to expand requiring broader skill sets in order to be termed competitive and an expert. At the same time, he who is adept at all things, is a master at none. I think we’ll see a concurrent dissection into niche development at the same time as you see a diversification of skill sets.
What are your thoughts on the evolution of SEO?
I happen to enjoy a handful of Internet Marketing related strategies from SEO, SEM & SMM. I’m certainly not the best of the best when it comes to the creation or modification of images & video and have never dabbled into the realm of podcasting.
I’d like to believe my stronger skills are within organic rankings within search engines and a complimentary mix of social media marketing and promotion.
I too wonder every now and then if the organic side of SEO will go the way of the dodo or the typewriter. I hope that when it does though that I am a retired old man who can sit on my porch and think about the good old days.
Onward and upward!
Of course when I retire I’ll sit on my rocket chair, and gaze out over the old Saturn digital homestead and think of the “Good Old Days” when you had to use your hands to “type” instead of just ThinkCast into the Cloud at anytime.