Day 2 at SES I thought I would spice it up a bit and wear my “Seo Sucks” t-shirt as a bit of a social experiment to see what kind of reaction it would get. Being at the largest and most respected SEO gathering/conference I was curious to the reaction.
Every female who stopped me and asked about the shirt had a very positive reaction. They all thought it was pretty funny. Most asked me what booth was handing them out…. lol…
On the Males it was a very mixed reaction. I got a lot of double takes and weird looks. Most of the people who know me just wrote me off for the dipshit that I am and knew what I was doing but those that did not were willing to take me to task and have a interesting conversation about SEO and its future. I do not think they were ready to be shown the light 
.
I would say about 50-60 different people stopped me to ask me why I had a shirt that said “Seo Sucks”. I razzed a few of them and said that I hated SEO and all SEO people just to get their reaction. Then I pretty much said the same thing to most – “No seriously are you telling me SEO has never sucked for you? Its kind of like having pocket aces in poker. For a very very short time you have the nuts (best hand possible) but as soon as the flop comes there is a good chance that goes a way.”
Anyway I really feel like with about anything that SEO does suck. Just consider this.
1 – It makes you stop trying to innovate. When people suddenly rank #1 for their keywords a lot of times they stop working on new things and settle.
2 – Its hard work. Its no joke SEO is hard work and its rules are constantly changing.. which means what you are doing today might not be acceptable tomorrow. While I feel there is no distant future of seo there is defiantly a ton more evolution.
There are several other reasons why i feel SEO sucks at times but right now I am craving a omlette.
Anyway the results might have been a little skewed being I was with some of the the oldest, most respected SEO people in the industry throughout the day. So what was their take? I think all were pretty much stunned at the people who came up to me and were offended. Some even looked at them and said “Do you make money for your clients or not? The proof is in the pudding.”
So probably the most interesting response I got was when one guy came up to me and said “I am with you brother fuck those spammers”. Which was really funny because I was standing right next to David Naylor, Todd Friesen, Matt Cutts, and Greg Boser at the time.
Geez I was going to write about the Google Dance last night too but I will save that for another post
Here are some day 2 Seo Sucks pictures:
With SEO legends David Naylor and Todd Friesen
Social Media and PR Master Chris Winfield 
SEO Lee Odin 
August 20, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Ha, that’s great. I want the t-shirt too!
August 20, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Really, SEO sucks if you are not the 1st, but if you are the 1st LONG LIVE SEO. Another reason why SEO sucks is because each search engine has its own rules. What you do for Google, you cannot do for Yahoo and MSN search. Now there is Cuil. It would soon bring its own rule. WHAT THE HELL!!!
August 20, 2008 at 1:10 pm
You have a “SEO SUCKS” t-shirt written on comic sans? Ohh. You’re really in for the linkbait. Ha ha. Looking forward to meeting you somewhere here at SES.
August 20, 2008 at 1:10 pm
A lot of truth to #1, especially if you are in a niche that’s not too competitive. It’s easy to get lazy and lose sight of who is moving up. Sucks when you wake up one day and you are no longer on top and you have not paid attention on how to stay there.
August 20, 2008 at 1:11 pm
I cannot believe I am missing out on all the fun at SES! Great post.
August 20, 2008 at 1:19 pm
My opinion, SEO will only die if the web and search engines die. Otherwise as long as there is a G or any other search engine giving results, there will always be webmasters trying to figure out how to get on top.
You may want to call it spam or black hat whatever it is, it will die only when the web dies.
August 20, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Interesting that that women found it more funny than the men!
Maybe you have a woman’s sense of humour!
August 20, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Jeremy needs to work on his style… enough with the t-shirts… time to mature.
August 20, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Putting a twist on things, ehh Shoe???
August 20, 2008 at 1:44 pm
By the way there is a picture of you on Marketing Pilgrim with this SEO Sucks tshirt. Great marketing as usual Jeremy..
August 20, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Makes me laugh… You should have shot some video of you walking around. I bet some of the expressions were priceless.
August 20, 2008 at 1:47 pm
lol
lets wait for a blast
August 20, 2008 at 1:48 pm
I also hate SEO because it sucks many times.
August 20, 2008 at 1:48 pm
I agree with Chris Kovac — can’t believe I’m missing the fun.
I’m on to you though Jeremy: you’re using that t-shirt to meet women, just admit it. It’s like PPC, only in real life. Stop-em-in-their tracks messaging that’s a perfect excuse to come talk to you. Have you A/B tested followup lines on your “landing page”? What is your conversion rate?
I’m showing up at the next conference with a wounded puppy dog.
August 20, 2008 at 1:50 pm
SEO sucks because it is like SCHOOL. And of course everybody knows, School Sucks right.
August 20, 2008 at 1:51 pm
I’ve never claimed to be an seo expert – in fact I kinda think that seo experts by definition are frauds.
August 20, 2008 at 1:52 pm
I just ordered 500 T-shirts that say Shoemoney Sucks. I will give them away for Free to whoever wants one.
August 20, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Wow jeremy every day u have a new Tshirt. I call you as a Tshirt Man.
August 20, 2008 at 2:15 pm
that’s some pretty sweet real-life linkbait!
August 20, 2008 at 2:16 pm
@Bubba I think shoe would love that idea. Any press is good press!
August 20, 2008 at 2:16 pm
I love the I am a tool tshirt- Use me. Its perfect
August 20, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Awesome social experiment- thanks for sharing the results!!
August 20, 2008 at 2:39 pm
@ cheap used cars, haha… “any press is good press” @Bubba, in a way you are marketing shoemoney right? People will still come check it out!!!
August 20, 2008 at 2:53 pm
haha love the SEO sucks t-shirt hook me up with one shoe great post!
August 20, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Looks like some good times. Did you make that t-shirt or did someone send it to you?
August 20, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Awesome way to get reactions out of people, props
August 20, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Jeremy, Great photos, and what a great way to wake up those sleepy booth attendents! Trade shows need a bit of controversy, otherwise it’s just another sales pitch. Respectfully, Nicholas http://www.donotreadthisblogunless.blogspot.com
August 20, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Doh! Missed another SES – drat
But, I’d like to congratulate you on your whole ‘counter-culture’ experience. Kinda like showing up to a rodeo with a “Bin Laden for President” t-shirt on. Sasha Cohen would be proud
August 20, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Love the shirt!! Where or how did you get it? I’ve tried cafepress before, but their quality isn’t that good and the logos come out too small. Or maybe it’s something I’m not doing right.
August 20, 2008 at 4:19 pm
I wish I was there as well, I know the information is priceless, too bad the registration was so pricey!
August 20, 2008 at 4:20 pm
The sheep avatar is cute!! How about I get a different colored one for each successive comment
August 20, 2008 at 4:33 pm
You can tell it’s a joke because the font is Comic Sans!
August 20, 2008 at 5:09 pm
LOL. I love that shirt. I want one.
August 20, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Nice T-shirt Jeremy
August 20, 2008 at 5:55 pm
That is pure awesome, I love people who don’t give a shit and have the balls to do and say what they really feel. Good on you Jeremy.
August 20, 2008 at 6:02 pm
I have to get one of those shirt or make one. You’re idea was awesome
August 20, 2008 at 6:02 pm
What a great way to bring attention to yourself during this.I like the idea,plus sometimes it is fun just being a dip shit.
August 20, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Well, considering that half the people there make their day-to-day income on SEO (as do I), it’s no wonder they’re reluctant to adopt your viewpoint. I don’t agree with you on your SEO’s future thing by the way.
August 20, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Well in that case, does PPC, affiliate marketing, web development, conversion rate optimization, this blog, life…
lol
August 20, 2008 at 6:37 pm
it is funny because it is true…
August 20, 2008 at 7:29 pm
I could use the same principle to make many more t-shirts.
Nice stunt though
August 20, 2008 at 7:57 pm
it’s written on the back of the t-shirt too ?
August 20, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Well done, sir! Some of these SEOs are the biggest bunch of goddamn primadonnas you’d ever want to meet. Then again, some are pretty cool. Wished I could have made it down but some of us SEOs have to work for a living and there are too many good conferences ’round these parts. Hopefully next year.
August 20, 2008 at 8:56 pm
LMFAO See? Us women have more of a sense of humor than men do!
Nice shirt.
August 20, 2008 at 9:26 pm
That’s awesome! That’s like the guy who walked into a WoW convention with a Glider cap
August 20, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Let me spell what this post means…L I N K B A I T
Good one too. SEO doesn’t suck, it made you rich.
August 20, 2008 at 11:21 pm
LOL Pretty great… always a rebel.
August 20, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Always the rabble rouser, Jeremy!
August 21, 2008 at 12:05 am
Yo Shoemoney. Start selling those shirts on your site. I will take one in large.
August 21, 2008 at 12:34 am
Nice pics, thanks. One question is that which WP plugin are you using for comments?
August 21, 2008 at 1:04 am
The guys who were taking the shirt too seriously probably live with their parents.
August 21, 2008 at 1:26 am
I agree everything sucks about SEO. The amount of time and research or even money. And the investment is never ending because of no clear cut public standards in an ever changing world of search engines.
Here lets just have a cold beer and ease the pain, no wait back to SEO on your blog!
August 21, 2008 at 2:01 am
whats on the back side?
August 21, 2008 at 2:02 am
btw when do you plan on promoting shirts rather than t-shirts…
August 21, 2008 at 2:02 am
@SEO Sucks And Shoemoney Swallows At SES: Send shoe a picture, he might just post it…
August 21, 2008 at 2:25 am
SEO may suck but not being ranked for any keywords sucks worse
August 21, 2008 at 3:22 am
why SEO sucks ?
PPC would cause you a lot.. so SEO rocks.
August 21, 2008 at 5:27 am
LOL @ the shirt, I wish I had a similar one
August 21, 2008 at 6:19 am
I think this shirt looks a little roughness. However, the time has been chosen well, this is a fact.
August 21, 2008 at 6:33 am
If you are a webmaster trying to get a site to rank then SEO sucks. If you are a webmaster with a site that ranks or an SEO expert then SEO is the nuts!
August 21, 2008 at 6:45 am
I like the idea of the name/links you posted above the images
August 21, 2008 at 10:32 am
Great Slogan Jeremy but you know all that’s going to change is the buzzword. You may not call it SEO in 10 years but gaming algorithms to improve authority and getting more eyeballs will outlast every one of us.
As Internet Marketing finally becomes a mature industry, perhaps it is time to adopt your more all-inclusive view of building a successful Web site as you constantly remind us instead of focusing on SEO as some kind of holy grail. Its only one trick you need in your bag if you want to pay the bills and SEOs selling Clients on SEO as a sure bet are like the snake oil salesman of the Web.
Thanks for telling it like it is.
August 21, 2008 at 11:27 am
in fact – SEO really sucks
August 21, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Comic Sans? What the hell are you thinking lol
August 21, 2008 at 2:33 pm
this is a trick shoe learned from calacanis, and I have to say he does it pretty well.
August 21, 2008 at 2:37 pm
SEO does not suck all the time. But seriously, SEO does suck when applied towards wrong clients who would have a lot more to gain via other advertising venues besides natural search.
August 21, 2008 at 3:14 pm
SEO Rocks!! :@
August 21, 2008 at 10:16 pm
I want that “SEO Sucks” T-Shirt too please
August 21, 2008 at 10:48 pm
cool “seo sucks” tshirt and the font is comic sans serif. seo not totally sucks.
August 21, 2008 at 10:54 pm
haha very awesome! i bet that was one hell of a day
August 22, 2008 at 1:39 am
Surely SEO is going to suck even more in the future as an ever increasing amount of competition for a limited number of top spots increases? There can only ever be one number one for any given keyword and over time the competition can only ever increase right?
August 22, 2008 at 8:32 am
I’m thinking you need to start selling them SEO Sucks T-shirts to the masses. I suspect you’ll get a few hundred sales at Google at least.
My “Matt Cutts can Bite Me” T-shirt has been a big hit at conferences in Australia.
August 22, 2008 at 10:23 am
Ya me too need it….
It rocks..>SEO really sucks.
August 22, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Shoe! You’re Awesome! Oh and nice shirt btw. Keep the attitude up dude, it’s great.
August 22, 2008 at 4:25 pm
“I want that “SEO Sucks” T-Shirt too please”
Then go to cafepress or zazzle and make the fucking thing yourself.
August 22, 2008 at 4:40 pm
That’s pretty funny.
August 23, 2008 at 8:45 am
A good PR will enable businesses to grow faster.
August 23, 2008 at 12:17 pm
It would actually be cool if my last name were Odin, a pretty big nod to Norse Mytholgy (Odin is akin to Zeuss in Greek Mythology) but the reality is that it’s just plain old Odden. Pronounced, “Oh – den” rather than “Ah-den” – a note to all the SES moderators and friends at WebmasterRadio.FM.
August 23, 2008 at 12:22 pm
An even better phrase for a t-shirt that came out of SES San Jose was from Jill Whalen: “If you suck at SEO and you get paid for it, you suck.” Priceless.
August 24, 2008 at 12:28 am
yes.. seo sucks.. thats why i made lot of comments here… lol
August 24, 2008 at 9:56 am
Whats with the comments that start and end with [...] ? Please excuse my ignorance, it’s probably something really obvious
August 24, 2008 at 12:25 pm
SEO does suck at times….
BUT
That font sucks even more…
August 24, 2008 at 2:48 pm
love the shirt and that you wore it to that conference awesome. not to be a kiss ass but i totally agree i hate seo. As soon as i think i get it, it changes! damn you GOOGLE
August 25, 2008 at 2:54 am
Now that’s attitude alright. Must say it was quite gutsy of you to do that stunt.
August 25, 2008 at 5:18 am
God agrees with Shoemoney people! I mean didn’t you see the signs outside the convention center in San Jose? Photo:
http://www.conferencenotebook.com/god-hates-link-sellers-seo-sem
August 25, 2008 at 6:46 am
A whole load of things to be learnt from you… thanks Jeremy
August 26, 2008 at 2:24 am
When i first saw you wearing that shirt i thoguht it was just black and you had added the text in with photoshop.
August 26, 2008 at 8:39 am
What an interesting blog post. Thank you for the share
August 27, 2008 at 8:42 am
I like the SEO Sucks T-shirt, Can I have one please
September 1, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Ur tshirt looks really nice, i wanna have one,
September 6, 2008 at 11:56 am
SEO is like Heart Surgery, it only sucks when it fails!
September 9, 2008 at 5:40 am
Nice shirt , you should make it available for the comment winners instead
September 9, 2008 at 11:46 am
SEOsucks.com and SEOsucks.net are available for sale!
September 16, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Ha! That is like wearing a shirt that says “Bacon Sucks.” People freak OUT!
October 8, 2008 at 4:29 am
SEO really sucks.Every site need SEO
October 14, 2008 at 5:10 am
People’s reactions are so funny, I get a kick out of stuff like that also. People always judge a book by it’s cover.
February 1, 2009 at 3:01 am
I guess next time there will be a booth selling the t-shirts?
February 4, 2009 at 8:50 pm
What happened to the site that was actually selling SEO shirts?
March 2, 2009 at 3:29 am
Really cool t shirt.
May 9, 2009 at 2:22 am
SEO really do sucks sometimes…