Tag: relaxing friday post

For a relaxing Friday post, I’m going to step away from strictly talking Internet marketing and talk about our thought process and how it relates to the decisions we make with our websites. This post takes a look at a few scenarios in which a general consensus or industry agreement is determined and how that information is disseminated and acted upon.

Let me be more specific. You read a blog post or article somewhere on the Interwebs that says Facebook is dead. This hypothetical article states that the user base has dropped so considerably that placing more effort in the outlet would be a mistake.

Perhaps this article is founded on real, global information gathered. So, you head to your marketing department and tell them that Facebook is dead and to put your efforts elsewhere.

But wait.

Why would you tell them to put their efforts elsewhere? Because you read a blog post? Because extensive research was performed and a decision made by a third party?

For this hypothetical situation, I want you to put aside the idea that an article of this sort could further impact the fall of Facebook (true or not, enough general consensus can and often does have an impact on the action, whether that was the current course or not). Instead, let’s talk about how you take advice on the Internet and what you do with that advice.

Before I explain the problem with the last example, let me give you one more.

You read some super awesome post on SEO Factor’s blog (you would have to go back in time to do that, but still). It’s a post about the title tag, how important it is, and how I write mine for my clients. You head to your website designer and say “hey, re-write all of our title tags just like Josh does.”

But wait.

Think about why you are re-writing your titles. Was it because of my advice; because I’m a professional SEO?

Take Steps to a Change Instead of Drastic Measures

In our Facebook is dead scenario, what is globally true is not always the case locally. Maybe Facebook is dieing, but to who? Instead of pulling your efforts make sure you aren’t still generating leads/sales/visits/whatever through Facebook.

Perhaps you find that you are still getting what you need from Facebook. Take a look at your site’s stats and make a decision based on your needs. Maybe such consensus would justify keeping an eye on the situation and making decisions as they are needed.

You read that Facebook is dieing, and you need to jump ship.
You know that Facebook is still serves a purpose to your business.

In the case of the titles, what if your website developer already had good titles. The funny thing about SEO is there are a ton of “wrong” ways to do something, but so few right. I know my titles work for me because I’ve implemented and experienced several ways of writing them. I also know of the different ways I would write a title depending on the specific needs of the site.

Maybe by changing your site’s titles so blindly, you risk a huge loss in search engine traffic. Instead, take a look at the performance of your site, consider your needs specifically and let your designer look at the article. Maybe, your site is performing just as it should on that front.

You read that I write my titles a certain way.
You know that your site is performing as it should be, and the titles are just fine.

At the end of the day, you have to keep an open mind in regard to your decisions online. There are a lot of great blogs and communities out there with information galore. Most of it is correct. But that does not necessarily mean that the opposite is incorrect.

If you ever read something that you think deserves attention, why not email the author or leave a comment asking if such a change should concern you? Why not also ask another expert in the field as well?

Oh, and please, I beg you. Take note of the dates on articles you read. I’ve gotten 7 emails in the last 2 weeks asking “should we do this?” All were in regard to a post not less than 3 years old.