Comments on: Is Writing For Search Engines Killing The Web? http://hunternuttall.com/blog/2008/08/is-writing-for-search-engines-killing-the-web/ Stop sucking and live a life of abundance Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:26:33 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: What’s in a Number? http://hunternuttall.com/blog/2008/08/is-writing-for-search-engines-killing-the-web/comment-page-1/#comment-5005 What’s in a Number? Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:04:32 +0000 http://hunternuttall.com/blog/?p=307#comment-5005 [...] highly on Google), you’re articles can start to sound awkward and uninspired as you start to shape articles entirely around keywords. If you’re obsessed with the social media, you may stop writing articles that are unlikely to [...] [...] highly on Google), you’re articles can start to sound awkward and uninspired as you start to shape articles entirely around keywords. If you’re obsessed with the social media, you may stop writing articles that are unlikely to [...]

]]> By: Obsessed With SEO? | MomGrind http://hunternuttall.com/blog/2008/08/is-writing-for-search-engines-killing-the-web/comment-page-1/#comment-4528 Obsessed With SEO? | MomGrind Thu, 09 Oct 2008 01:43:49 +0000 http://hunternuttall.com/blog/?p=307#comment-4528 [...] This post was inspired by a recent discussion on Cath Lawson’s blog. Monika Mundell of The Writer’s Manifesto Blog observed that linking needs to be done correctly, in order to maximize search engine results. The discussion heated up a little, which is a good thing in my opinion, and then Hunter Nuttall observed that writing for search engines often conflicts with writing for people. This got me thinking about my own approach to writing this blog. Hunter further elaborated on the topic in his excellent post Is Writing For Search Engines Killing The Web?  [...]

]]> By: Hunter Nuttall http://hunternuttall.com/blog/2008/08/is-writing-for-search-engines-killing-the-web/comment-page-1/#comment-3607 Hunter Nuttall Tue, 16 Sep 2008 05:42:54 +0000 http://hunternuttall.com/blog/?p=307#comment-3607 @ Dot, hey, you came back and recommented three weeks later! Welcome back to this post! :) @ Dot, hey, you came back and recommented three weeks later! Welcome back to this post! :)

]]> By: Dot http://hunternuttall.com/blog/2008/08/is-writing-for-search-engines-killing-the-web/comment-page-1/#comment-3593 Dot Mon, 15 Sep 2008 20:37:03 +0000 http://hunternuttall.com/blog/?p=307#comment-3593 "...where the hell are your keywords?" That cracked me up. “…where the hell are your keywords?” That cracked me up.

]]> By: How To Lose 100 Subscribers in 4 Days | MomGrind http://hunternuttall.com/blog/2008/08/is-writing-for-search-engines-killing-the-web/comment-page-1/#comment-3111 How To Lose 100 Subscribers in 4 Days | MomGrind Tue, 02 Sep 2008 18:47:28 +0000 http://hunternuttall.com/blog/?p=307#comment-3111 [...] Hunter Nuttall and Andre Kibbe of Tools For Thought just convinced me, in their very articulate comments below, to take the reader counter off my site. Since I don’t see any evidence whatsoever that the counter has any positive effect on subscription rates, it just seems like bad marketing to highlight a weakness right on my homepage, when other areas are so strong. [...] [...] Hunter Nuttall and Andre Kibbe of Tools For Thought just convinced me, in their very articulate comments below, to take the reader counter off my site. Since I don’t see any evidence whatsoever that the counter has any positive effect on subscription rates, it just seems like bad marketing to highlight a weakness right on my homepage, when other areas are so strong. [...]

]]> By: Hunter Nuttall http://hunternuttall.com/blog/2008/08/is-writing-for-search-engines-killing-the-web/comment-page-1/#comment-2751 Hunter Nuttall Sat, 23 Aug 2008 05:08:09 +0000 http://hunternuttall.com/blog/?p=307#comment-2751 @ Dot, when I come across a new blog, I usually decide in the first few seconds whether I want to ever come back to it again. If it's clearly not written for people, I'm outta there! After all, there are plenty of blogs out there that are written for our species. @ Dot, when I come across a new blog, I usually decide in the first few seconds whether I want to ever come back to it again. If it’s clearly not written for people, I’m outta there! After all, there are plenty of blogs out there that are written for our species.

]]> By: Dot H. http://hunternuttall.com/blog/2008/08/is-writing-for-search-engines-killing-the-web/comment-page-1/#comment-2717 Dot H. Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:25:51 +0000 http://hunternuttall.com/blog/?p=307#comment-2717 I agree. There are times when I'm reading a blog and it's so obvious that the person is more interested in earning a living (not a crime) than writing for people. But the blogs I stick with are those with content that interests me. Otherwise, it feels like the times when you do a search for something like "quilting" and end up at a porn site. I agree. There are times when I’m reading a blog and it’s so obvious that the person is more interested in earning a living (not a crime) than writing for people. But the blogs I stick with are those with content that interests me. Otherwise, it feels like the times when you do a search for something like “quilting” and end up at a porn site.

]]> By: Hunter Nuttall http://hunternuttall.com/blog/2008/08/is-writing-for-search-engines-killing-the-web/comment-page-1/#comment-2703 Hunter Nuttall Fri, 22 Aug 2008 02:04:23 +0000 http://hunternuttall.com/blog/?p=307#comment-2703 Wow, lots of comments! I agree that this is an extreme example, but I think extreme examples are often best for getting the point across. I think it's sad that well-optimized sites based on a high-paying keyword can do well, and I hope that search engines will learn to ignore spam sites that are based purely on SEO instead of useful content. @ Barbara, I didn't use the rehasher, but now you've given me an idea: an SEO rehasher! @ Writer Dad, now you've said something else that's very quotable: "I don't want to contribute to the murder of the web." And yes, it is murder! @ Dave, I agree that traffic from links is much better than traffic from search engines, because a referral is much better than a random visitor. @ Marelisa, yes, there is a similarity in there. I once read something about what would have happened if Michelangelo had been identical twins! Wow, lots of comments! I agree that this is an extreme example, but I think extreme examples are often best for getting the point across. I think it’s sad that well-optimized sites based on a high-paying keyword can do well, and I hope that search engines will learn to ignore spam sites that are based purely on SEO instead of useful content.

@ Barbara, I didn’t use the rehasher, but now you’ve given me an idea: an SEO rehasher!

@ Writer Dad, now you’ve said something else that’s very quotable: “I don’t want to contribute to the murder of the web.” And yes, it is murder!

@ Dave, I agree that traffic from links is much better than traffic from search engines, because a referral is much better than a random visitor.

@ Marelisa, yes, there is a similarity in there. I once read something about what would have happened if Michelangelo had been identical twins!

]]> By: Glen Allsopp http://hunternuttall.com/blog/2008/08/is-writing-for-search-engines-killing-the-web/comment-page-1/#comment-2698 Glen Allsopp Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:48:41 +0000 http://hunternuttall.com/blog/?p=307#comment-2698 This is a very extreme example (I've been doing SEO for 3 years) but I definitely agree with and understand your points. BTW, you have an excellent writing style, I kind of knew what the post was going to be about but I still read every single word :) This is a very extreme example (I’ve been doing SEO for 3 years) but I definitely agree with and understand your points.

BTW, you have an excellent writing style, I kind of knew what the post was going to be about but I still read every single word :)

]]> By: Vered http://hunternuttall.com/blog/2008/08/is-writing-for-search-engines-killing-the-web/comment-page-1/#comment-2693 Vered Thu, 21 Aug 2008 04:42:10 +0000 http://hunternuttall.com/blog/?p=307#comment-2693 I agree. This is very timely for me. I was just writing a post about SEO - inspired by the discussion on Cath Lawson's blog and by what you said there. Writing for search engines does conflict with writing for people, and needs to be done - if at all - very carefully. I think I am going to publish my own thoughts on the subject on Friday. :) Vereds last blog post..<a href="http://momgrind.com/2008/08/19/thank-you-for-smoking/" rel="nofollow">Thank You For Smoking</a> I agree. This is very timely for me. I was just writing a post about SEO – inspired by the discussion on Cath Lawson’s blog and by what you said there. Writing for search engines does conflict with writing for people, and needs to be done – if at all – very carefully.

I think I am going to publish my own thoughts on the subject on Friday. :)

Vereds last blog post..Thank You For Smoking

]]>