1. I was one of those who was taken a back with your post that SEO is dead. But somehow I was never surprised when you launched Free SEO Report.

   I guess with your automated SEO service, SEO, as a profession, could be a thing of the past.

   1. The report I got was really useful. I intend to use the service again soon after I launch the other site I’m currently working on.

2. As long as there are search engines, SEO will never be dead! That’s just it

   1. I don’t think so, too. But it could be evolving. It would be interesting to find out if there are more to SEO than what we currently know of it.

      1. I couldn’t agree more, SEO changes and we adapt to each change every time, that is how things work.

      2. Why don’t think so? if there are search engines, SEO will never be dead.

         period.

   2. I read that users trust organic search results more than paid ads. Not that I’m discounting ads because I run a lot of PPC campaigns as well. But, I’m not giving up on SEO just yet esp. if it continues to drive traffic to my site.

      1. I first heard “SEO is dead” over four years ago when I was just starting out in this business. But until now I’m still reading/hearing the same claims. For me, that just proves that it’s far from dead.

         1. There are so many false SEO businesses out there. But Real SEO is certainly not dead….not as long as there is an Internet.

   3. Amen to that. SEO alone may not be the key to your business’ success but it sure is one of the contributing factors.

3. FreeSEOReport is good, but if you have Shoemoney Tools, then you are already set up with what you need to do this on your own.

   1. The report I got was useful. I haven’t tried any of the tools yet. Will check them out.

4. I’m not an SEO pro so I really don’t know much about it but I think what you said made sense. At the end of the day it’s users’ behavior that matter. It helps if you could somehow make informed choices as to how you can improve your site to influence said behavior.

   1. SEO is still relevant IMHO. But I don’t think it helps much in conversion unless you have something unique, interesting, and/or useful to offer.

5. Nice video! It’s all a matter of perspectives. Like you said, you’re coming from quantified, personal experiences. I still think that SEO as it is now works but I also find the points you raised interesting.

   1. Whatever works…

      1. Well, I think SEO in reference to old school factors/techniques is dying (if not already dead). The success of a site is not just about measuring key density but rather on how users respond to what you have to offer. You may get the traffic but it doesn’t necessarily guarantee that they would respond to your CTA.

      2. I’ve read some interesting points raised in some of the comments here. I prefer to wait it out and see if SEO is indeed dead. 🙂

         1. I think it will always have a place as long as search leads sales.

6. I got my report soon after you featured it here in your blog. I think it’s a very useful tool. Goes to show that just because you don’t think one thing’s lives up to the hype doesn’t mean you can’t work on creating something from it.

   1. If the free seo report turned out to be a needed service doesn’t it just proves that people do rely on seo?

   2. I’d like to get a report from my three other sites, too but I have to pay for those already, right?

7. I haven’t signed up for the Free SEO Report yet but it sounds like an interesting service. I’ll check it out later.

8. Everything had to be crafted to draw readers and that’s what SEO’s for. It’s good that there’s a service like Free SEO Report that can help anyone who wants to gather relevant data find quality stats to work on.

9. I don’t know if SEO’s dead or not. What I know is that I still need to set up a page that search engines can understand.

   1. Something I need to remember as we’re creating a site for our small business.

10. I’ve been hearing “SEO is dead” for years now. I don’t know if it’s true or not. What I know is I still employ what little SEO techniques I’ve learned and it seems to be working well for my site.

11. I’m all for anything that can help me increase conversions. So far, SEO is delivering the results at less the cost I spend on other campaigns.

12. Is SEO dead? I’m not sure. But one thing’s for sure though, there is a much wider understanding of how to rank than there was a few years ago.

13. Visibility. Anyone who has a website and trying to promote a product or service definitely needs it. As long as there’s a need for visibility, SEO remains relevant.

    1. Good point. Dear or thriving, it’s anybody’s guess (or opinions). As long as it’s providing the results I want though, I won’t be burying it just yet.

14. My goal is to get my online business more visible. I’m willing to explore anything that can help me do that.

15. I haven’t even tried to maximize SEO yet and now I hear it’s dead.

16. Natural and paid search remain far more important within ecommerce than social search IMHO.

17. My goal is to monetize my site. I’ll make use of whatever available strategy that would make it easier for me to accomplish that.

18. I was surprised when you released the Free SEO Report actually soon after you posted something about SEO being dead. Still, I think the service is really awesome.

19. That shirt is quite insanely orange, too. Enough said. Time for a beer.

20. Is this an admission from you that you were wrong announcing that SEO is dead? (By the way, you’re using WordPress and its setup itself is well-designed for search engine optimization.)

21. I’d go for search engine optimization anytime. Besides having long term results (benefits remain after the campaign is over), you’re also in for a relatively high ROI if you just persevere.

    1. Great points you provided there but I still am not impressed. SEO takes longer to set up a good ranking in the playing field and just missing the target on some keywords results to a total waste of time and effort sooner or later.

    2. Excellent work on fine tuning things, you two. Obliviously, these advantages and disadvantages you highlighted don’t mean that one is better than the other, or that a certain type of web commerce practitioner should choose one against the other just to keep his or her online business afloat. These facts points out the limitation of both methods of marketing.

22. Is it just me or does anybody else remember their junior year history class after watching this video post? Does Benedict Arnold ring a bell?

23. So long as people look for information, SEO will always exist.

24. “I have never tried to do 1 seo thing with this blog yet it ranks consistently for whatever I write about. I guess natural linking just wins in the end.” I am a bit partial on this one since although I am a fan of SEO, I don’t utilize it for my online bookshop since it is entirely dependent upon the random trend of the keywords. What do you think, Shoe?

    1. That’s why I am all for PPC. With the right budget, you are guaranteed to get instant results. Moreover, top rankings can be achieved in a matter of hours or days. Not months in the case of search engine optimization.

25. ^ Is that a quote from the SEO is Dead post? LOL

26. Control is the real issue here. You can’t really have a complete charge of trending keywords in SEO. While in PPC, you are in change of almost all aspects of the campaign. Plus, you can target many keywords and people from different geographical regions.

27. By using proper SEO services, you can enjoy long term benefits through consistently high page ranks in Google, Yahoo and Bing. And the best thing about it? Potential customers can easily find your online marketplace even with eyes closed.

    1. As we all know, different search engines may have different criteria for page ranks. So, there is no “one-size-fits-all” treatment. SEO puts some restrictions on web designs, too. For example, there are some limitations pertaining to the use of JavaScript, flash elements and so on.

28. Does this mean that you’re recanting and telling all the Shoemoney fans out there that there is, after all, business in search engine optimization?

29. Let me get this straight. I am an avid fan of PPC ever since time immemorial. Why, you ask?

    1. Costs are only incurred when someone clicks on your ad.

    2. Results can be tracked and measured precisely, thus improving ROI.

    3. Permits geographic targeting.

    4. Allows running of ads at different times, whenever you want.

    Touche!

    1. Effective optimization services need to be implemented painstakingly. It is a time consuming process and I mean time consuming. Depending on the competition and the niche, it takes time for websites to appear on search engines. Rebuttal?

30. Got any updates on the next Humongo Nation tour?

31. Definitely agree with you there! Everywhere you go online people talk about backlinks, getting indexed, right keywords, meta tags, etc. Those terms are sounding more and more like the normal thing to do when you’re serious about opening an online business.

    But this a great topic for all bloggers out there.

    1. “Everywhere you go online people talk about backlinks, getting indexed, right keywords, meta tags, etc.” Alright, how about removing all that stuff from your website and come back next week for updates? 😛

       1. LOL. I’d love to see how this one turns out.

32. PPC rankings disappear as soon as you stop paying. PPC can be expensive in the long term. PPC costs can quickly spiral out of control. PPC can be susceptible to ‘click fraud’ (e.g. competitors clicking on your ads to drive up costs). Need I say more?

    1. Finally, someone I can relate to! I went for PPC a couple of months back when I discovered that search engine optimization mostly relies solely on random trend of keywords. The method’s not that hot for flash-based sites though but it’s still number one for me.

33. SEO conversion ratios are dependent on current market trends and trends in keywords. With that kind of randomized activity, there is no guarantee that your website will enjoy a hundred percent conversion ratios.

34. Just passing by, Jeremy. I just want to ask when’s the next Playboy Mansion shindig will be happening and if I can come as your escort?

    1. This is perhaps the creepiest comment in this thread or either the ballsiest one. Mind — still — processing.

       1. Where’s the LIKE button when you need one?

35. Pay per click ankings are viewed by people as being a form of “advertising,” some users consider this a plus, others think it is a negative. Besides, setting and managing PPC campaigns is kind of tricky. Should only be done by a professional (if a campaign is not performing, it will be automatically deactivated). SEO is still the one for me then!

    1. Search engine optimization requires average to complex programming skills in order to modify the code of your site. In most cases, SEO can’t even guarantee exact results like, let’s say, the first position for a keyword.

    2. Bam! Final nail on the coffin. 😀

36. A turncoat is a person who shifts allegiance from one loyalty or ideal to another, betraying or deserting an original cause by switching to the opposing side or party. (Don’t even mind me a bit. Just practicing my English as a second language piece right here.)

    1. I knew something fishy is going on here!

37. There’s really only one ultimate SEO advantage, which is getting better rankings in the SERPs.
    The only con I can think of? Not good for people who hate ranking well in the SERPs.

38. Hi Shoemoney,

    I have a question. Do you have any recommendations on where to get some quality into and exit video bumpers done?

    Love your content!

    Tyler

39. All I can say is that SEO gives me a real headache.

40. I still believe Justin Goff owes us a follow-up post.

41. My favorite comment from the SEO is dead thread: “I would have to say that SEO is still very much alive. It is just in a different form than it used to be. You cannot simply sign up to a huge link farm network and instantly be number one. However, if you use several proper techniques and build content and steadily build links you will notice a huge increase. I just thought the mantra of the current SEO days was that content is king. Am I right?” Let the brain frying commence!

42. Is there alcohol in that drink of yours? Lol, from what you are saying it sounds like it.

43. Very nice post : SEO can not be dead and SEO is very a very important part of internet marketing. Today Internet marketing has become part and the parcel of every business and no one can deny the importance of this new era and good Articles like this are adding a lot in the importance of internet marketing.

44. I think the problem lies in what Shoemoney is calling SEO. In the video he states that he feels SEO is 95% on page factors and 5% other factors which include backlinks. I feel that definition is totally wrong. The problem with most new websites or owners of websites do not perform Keyword research so they do not know which keywords they need to target but the bigger faux pas is that only 5% is off page factors??? The main part of SEO is building backlinks. Even if a website didn’t target a keyword, they could still be #1 for it due to the backlinks which is why Adobe is still number 1 for numerous years now for the keyword “click here”

45. Honestly Shoe, haven’t you taken enough from these poor noobs who buy into your nonsense?

    I’ll believe SEO is dead when you shut down your website.

46. SEO is much harder today than it used to be few years back. But with can’t live without it unless one is looking to spend big bucks in paid advertising.

47. If Shoe didn’t care about SEO then the blog comments on this blog would be do-follow.

48. I agree, SEO depends mostly – on page factors. That is why Google says content is king.
    The main thing has to be the content, on page keywords, the domain age etc. Nowdays, Google is discounting the backlinks like anything, may be they even remove that factor sometime in future?

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