Although Search Engine Optimization (SEO) may seem like the “latest and greatest” tool a business may have, let me be the first to tell you that it shouldn’t be the only one. In fact, if you think that all you need to do to have a successful web business is to implement an SEO strategy, you’d be wrong. A business is still only as strong as its foundation. SEO should be implemented with that in mind. A strong business will benefit from SEO, but a business that is weak in terms of structure, idea, focus, etc. will not gain much of anything.
The Marketing Pilgrim explainswhy a business doesn’t need SEO by asking us to reflect on what "need" really means. At calanacis.com Jason Calanacis, previous GM of Netscape speaks his thoughts on SEO (is it B.S. or not) . His main points are:
- If you build a great site and you take your time you will rise in the Google rankings
- Have faith in Google's ability to sort the good from the bad
- The best way to do SEO is make better content, more consistently
Even when it comes to utilizing SEO for your blog, again, you are only as good as your content, as Graywolf’s tongue in cheek SEO post Your Stories Never Go Popular Because Your Personal Marketing Plan Sucks.
At the end of the day, SEO should not be your business band-aid. Look at your business, focus on your key strengths, build a strong model, and use SEO as one of many marketing tools to get you to where you want to be.
