is SEO stifling creativity?

Nomax5 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-19-2008, 11:37 AM

The way I see SEO is basically Google due to their dominance are influencing to a certain extent what and how much content a given website should have, even the layout is affected.

Obviously the choice is yours; you can ignore all this SEO stuff and create what ever you like, but if you want to be ranked well and receive visitors then you’d better conform or Pay to be listed.

do you see what I’m getting at?

morestar · #2 (**permalink**) 02-19-2008, 06:39 PM

Sure but that goes with almost all form of advertising. Like radio, if you want to reach the majority of morning communters you're going to have to advertise with the TOP NOTCH radio statioin that has the most listeneres (like google has the most searchers) in order to, well, reach the most listeners.

Now there are other ways of getting traffic to your site too. If you create a kick-butt site that tons of people LOVE then they will link to your site and then you will get a certain amount of traffic but again if you want TONS of traffic then you need to be played (listed) on that radio station (search engine) that gets the most listeners (searchers)...I said this already didn't I ?

That's just life - no use complaining now is there?

inertia · #3 (**permalink**) 02-20-2008, 05:15 AM

I agree Nomax. But its all part of the game!

As an seo i have regular debates with designers about the sites that they produce. The main dispute relating to text areas. The guys will often produce a photoshop masterpiece which has no versatility with regards to changing or buildingcontent in to that design.

Tubby · #4 (**permalink**) 02-20-2008, 07:00 AM

Yes It stifles. . people tred the well worn track, scared to step into the freedom of off the road. it is a shame. it is almost a fear of being isolgooglated. Creativity loss is just another cost.

morestar · #5 (**permalink**) 02-20-2008, 08:45 AM

Why? It's no cost for me! I can (and so could any web designer) take a kick-butt photoshop (in my case image ready) created template and turn it into an seo master-piece...it just takes a little bit of time and effort.

I don't really see the problem. Enlighten me?

jScott_Harris · #6 (**permalink**) 02-24-2008, 01:32 PM

You're right in the sense that Flash and SEO really don't mix, but I have come to the opposite conclusion. SEO has forced me to become really creative in other ways. I've had to learn CSS inside and out. I've started using technologies like SIFR. If you don't know what that is, look it up, it's great! I've custom built a SEO friendly content management system that really made me think outside of the box. But as far a graphic design is concerned, I don't hold back. I lay it out in Fireworks( and I'll be glad to argue Fireworks over Photoshop anyday concerning website design) without thought to SEO and when I'm slicing the template and making the associated HTML, I then have SEO as a #1 priority.

Granted, most of us aren't dealing with the Nike's,Sony's and other big brand names that don't have to concern themselves with SEO at all, but I rarely say to myself "Can't do that, its not SEO friendly" as their are always ways to make it work both creatively and search engine wise.

morestar · #7 (**permalink**) 02-24-2008, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jScott_Harris

and I'll be glad to argue Fireworks over Photoshop anyday concerning website design...

I don't believe many use Photoshop for slicing up images to generate HTML, Photoshop's cousin is Image Ready, which is made for that type of work...it even let's you specify image names, alt tags etc. before the HTML it generated...but argue with me, I'd love to know why Fireworks kicks donkey!