3 ms·

So many of these examples don't hold up if you stop and think about it. The first example staying that Google's shitty results is "our" fault for using SEO. But

So many of these examples don't hold up if you stop and think about it. The first example staying that Google's shitty results is "our" fault for using SEO. But it's SEO spam that's the problem, not SEO itself. When I search "Dentist <CITY>" someone is optimizing to be at the top of that specific search, but that person is usually a dentist in my city which is what I want. Similarly, I'm well aware I'd spend less time on sites not deliberately engineered to be addictive. That's not because I'm having a miserable time, I'm just balancing it with other stuff.

theahura 1y ago
> someone is optimizing to be at the top of that specific search Sorry, I disagree. I think it's antisocial behavior to specifically optimize to be on the top of a specific query. No one thinks they are the bad guy. Everyone believes they are just trying to help people out. There isnt any hard distinction between SEO and SEO spam, just gradients and subjective opinion about the content
- DoctorOW 1y ago
  I can understand believing that in the abstract, but that's why I provided an example. I guarantee you that I can objectively measure if someone is a dentist, and if so, the city that they practice in.
  - theahura 1y ago
    Sure, I don't doubt that. But what is the benefit of having said dentist spend extra money trying to 'optimize' the search engine? Here's a hypothetical. There is a town called Foo with two twin dentists, Bar and Baz, who provide identical services. They both get ~50% of Foo's clientele. One day, Bar decides to hire a firm to SEO-market for him. He suddenly gets 75% of Foo's clientele, while Baz drops down to 25%. In order to counter this, Baz now hires the same firm. Now both Bar and Baz are back to splitting Foo's clientele. But they are also losing some chunk of money to SEO marketers in a rat-race against each other. Who benefits from this? I think in your example you suggest that you as a consumer benefit from this -- why / how?
    - DoctorOW 1y ago
      Sorry for the delay, part of the benefit of SEO to the consumer is that you optimize your website by improving performance and filling your website with information. Provided we're not talking SEO spam (inaccurate information) then an optimized website is more likely to answer the questions I'm querying for. Before, I (maybe) knew Bar and Baz were dentists in Foo. Now, I have the ability to actually compare the differences based on the specific queries they optimize for. Maybe one is open later than the other, or offers a procedure I'll need, or takes different insurance.

theahura 1y ago

> someone is optimizing to be at the top of that specific search Sorry, I disagree. I think it's antisocial behavior to specifically optimize to be on the top of a specific query. No one thinks they are the bad guy. Everyone believes they are just trying to help people out. There isnt any hard distinction between SEO and SEO spam, just gradients and subjective opinion about the content

DoctorOW 1y ago
I can understand believing that in the abstract, but that's why I provided an example. I guarantee you that I can objectively measure if someone is a dentist, and if so, the city that they practice in.
- theahura 1y ago
  Sure, I don't doubt that. But what is the benefit of having said dentist spend extra money trying to 'optimize' the search engine? Here's a hypothetical. There is a town called Foo with two twin dentists, Bar and Baz, who provide identical services. They both get ~50% of Foo's clientele. One day, Bar decides to hire a firm to SEO-market for him. He suddenly gets 75% of Foo's clientele, while Baz drops down to 25%. In order to counter this, Baz now hires the same firm. Now both Bar and Baz are back to splitting Foo's clientele. But they are also losing some chunk of money to SEO marketers in a rat-race against each other. Who benefits from this? I think in your example you suggest that you as a consumer benefit from this -- why / how?
  - DoctorOW 1y ago
    Sorry for the delay, part of the benefit of SEO to the consumer is that you optimize your website by improving performance and filling your website with information. Provided we're not talking SEO spam (inaccurate information) then an optimized website is more likely to answer the questions I'm querying for. Before, I (maybe) knew Bar and Baz were dentists in Foo. Now, I have the ability to actually compare the differences based on the specific queries they optimize for. Maybe one is open later than the other, or offers a procedure I'll need, or takes different insurance.