Seo sucks and here is why
 

The fast pace of algorithm updates makes it relatively inefficient to try to keep up with the formula with the purpose of gaming it. Just to make sure, in March of 2012 Google's update introduced a negative algorithmic factor weighed against sites perceived to be overly optimized.

New Google Algorithm Change Shows Uptick in Evolution Velocity - MarketingVOX

So why do we see people promoting having your own hosting and site and doing SEO when there are other ways to make money a lot faster and more reliably?

ie
1) Piggy backing, as I call it, on an existing high traffic, high ranked, authority site.
2) Utilizing paid advertising, particularly PPV and Media Buys.

Allan,

I agree Seo sucks a lot more than it used to lol. Years ago, SEO used to be a lot easier and a lot more straight forward. But some of the basics like getting relevant backlinks can still be helpful. Even if a well placed backlink doesn't help with SEO, it can still produce immediate traffic.

You offer some great tips for getting traffic and I enjoyed reading your post. :)

Thanks for sharing.

Good SEO is about creating good content. Create a real website that has real, tangible value to users and you find that Google's algorithm changes aren't bad at all.

Great question. I have no idea how to answer it though. And what's worse is many people are still giving bad SEO advice. These days I wouldn't take SEO advice from anyone who isn't successfully doing it for a living, and who has sites ranked in the top results as proof. And even then you have to understand that it can all go down the tubes with the next change.

So I agree wholeheartedly... find another, more reliable way to promote your business.

I see people complaining about Google's updates over the past year all the time. What gets me though is that these updates should have come as a surprise to nobody. Google had long warned people not to use some of the commonly accepted "SEO" (and I use that term loosely) practices that were out there. They just did not have the ability to really target people using those methods in an efficient way until their Panda and Penguin updates.

I have yet to find a single website that got hit and didn't deserve it.

If anything, I think SEO actually got easier. Google's algorithm was not supposed to reward people who spammed their way to top rankings, but for a long time it did. I look at it as a bit of a glitch. They just fixed the glitch.

None of my clients have ever been hit by any of Google's algorithm updates.

As for seeking out other traffic sources, a real business would be stupid not to. However, to ignore search traffic would be equally foolish. People are searching everyday in Google for your business. If they are not finding you, they are finding your competitors.

I think the real problem with SEO is too many businesses and IM'ers got suckered in by $50-100/month SEO offers. Truth is that you cannot do real SEO work for $100/month. You get what you pay for.

There are also a lot of lousy SEO's out there. I see it everyday. People read some stupid $17, 10-page eBook they find on a marketing forum (I'm looking at you WarriorForum), and now they think they are an SEO. They believe they can start taking on work for real businesses. In the past, the worst they could do was throw up a bunch of links that really had no benefit. After Penguin though, wannabe-SEO's are destroying the rankings of businesses all over the place. Since Penguin, my business has more than doubled. I actually turn away far more projects than I take on.

If you find the right SEO though, it can be a great investment in your business.

Great topic. I have never really done well with learning hoe SEO works.

The Penguin update (which you referred to from last spring) was brutal for a lot of websites, including a could of mine. I'll admit, that sucked, but I wouldn't say SEO sucks on the whole. SEO, when done right and working for you, yields the holy grail of free organic traffic. It's my absolute favorite.

Here's the issue as I see it...

SEO changes often because the search engines (namely Google) are constantly evolving. There is no way around that, so if you get involved in SEO you need to stay current and roll with the punches. The problem is that a SEO tactic that works today may not work tomorrow, so you've got to follow the trends and be a forward thinker in how you do things.

The key as I see it - and to answer your question - is NOT to rely solely on SEO (specifically Google) for your website traffic. If you do, you risk losing traffic / leads/ sales when something you're doing now stops working. Diversify. Do SEO, but also do social media, do some PPC, media buys, etc. (I personally don't like PPV, but do that too if you like it).

This caution goes for piggybacking as well. When you piggyback on sites with built in traffic (like Squidoo, Hubpages, Blogger, etc.), you don't own that real estate, so your content can be take down whenever they feel like it... and *poof* - traffic gone.

You've got to mix it up when it comes to driving traffic to your business. Do SEO, piggybacking, social media, PPC, video, media buys, PPV - whatever works for you. Just do not solely rely on one method because if it stops working, you risk a dry spell in your business and your income until you get things flowing again.

I couldn't agree with you more Mike! The fact is that SEO is a multi pronged approach and CAN be learned AS you utilize AND TEST other traffic methods.

The answer is see Allen, why people don't use enough paid sources is:
A. They don't know what to buy
B. They are scared of wasting their money because they don't know if their stuff converts.
C. They don't have the resources. (their operating on a shoestring usually.)

The biggest key is doing a little research and test what you've learned and track your results. With buying traffic, you better have some testing methods to see what converts and what doesn't. Then obviously, kill what's not working and exploit what is.

Great info, thanks...

SEO is alive and well if you ask me. And not too hard to get a handle on despite changes and you don't have to spend money to learn it.

This is exactly right - the new algorithms support genuine content - which means that brands can focus on adding value to customers and being "brand right" instead of trying to push results. And it increases the value of social media tools as well.