How SEO Ruined the Internet – What You Need to Know
When Google was first introduced, it was easy and enjoyable searching for anything you needed. It was exciting to search for random items and get relevant results in return. With the number of new algorithms being introduced and updated, things have changed, this includes search engine optimisation (SEO).
SEO experts help to make the web safer, more accessible, and faster. There are those that do not abide by the rules using black hat techniques, boosting their own website rankings by creating false information and breaking the law. Some will go as far as hacking into a website and adding their own back links back to their website. White hat techniques are those that follow the rules, but at the same time, are they ruining the internet?
SEO professionals have to constantly work to stay updated with the latest algorithms and trends. This includes optimising older content, making them marketable, appealing for users, while ensuring search engines crawl and rank them. It's not uncommon to find an article you think you have already read, only to find that someone has rewritten it, optimising it for SEO. This can be frustrating, especially when searching for very specific information. You get to read the same article twice, a very frustrating experience for the user.
Due to the competitive nature of the internet, some companies have gone as far as publishing numerous websites. That means when you search for a particular product, you will see a number of options come up in the results. In many cases, it doesn't matter which site you choose, all the websites are owned by a single company. This is making it harder for some businesses to get their foot in the door, boosting their brand visibility, and attracting new potential customers.
One of the SEO tactics used by some SEO experts is “content pruning.” This is often seen on established websites, where the team delete content, rather than archiving it. When they remove the content and replace it with a 41 status code, this keeps the search engines focused on their current content, rather than taking older content into consideration. This means the internet is not accountable.
The biggest question you may have is whether SEO have ruined the internet. You have to weigh up the negative with the amazing benefits SEO can provide to your business. Yes, there is a negative impact, where SEO has saturated the web with adapted content that has been designed to appeal to search engines, rather than to the users. This shows that businesses with a desire to increase their ranking have compromised the quality of their content, ensuring that they appeal to the search engine and boost their visibility on the internet.
At the same time, we cannot ignore the amazing benefits SEO provides. For businesses, it is an opportunity to compete on a global scale without a high marketing budget. You can boost your online visibility, drive quality traffic to your website, and improve conversion rates.
SEO also helps websites focus on user experience, giving them a chance against their established competitors. When your website has fast loading speeds, is easy to navigate, and offers high-quality and relevant content, SEO proves that it is user friendly and efficient.
SEO has not really ruined the internet, as long as it is done properly. That being said, businesses need to use white hat techniques, following the Best Practices guide provided by Google. When you focus on high quality content that appeals to your audience, rather than manipulating search engines, you will see excellent results.
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