Not optimising for Google

[Tubby]

Are you optimising for Google?

I think that a proportion of WPW users are not actually optimising for search engines.
I think some of you are optimising for a community standard (self imposed) and not realy related to search engine results.
I think when you 'upgrade' to comply with a "standard" before you can get listed in a web directory. . I think you cease optimising for the search engines, and wander off into an intellectual fantasy.. I think you have strayed of the track and started optimising for your peers..

O.K. that might be slightly provocative. . But do we do it ?

[Webnauts]

Well if you pose it that way:

I do optimize for search engines, but with humans in mind!

[Tubby]

Hi Mate, I did actually think of you when I posted the question. I fully realize that some WPW members have a definite need to 'be the best they can be'

My question was rather aimed at wpw members that get caught up in the SEO game. .and lose site of what the search engines and users actually need. . The end result is they devote precious time chasing a mythical fantasy. . and forget to actually sell anything.

We do need to look towards the top of the tree occasionally. . But a lot of us can live extremely comfortably on the lower branches.

I looked at a web page the other day. it had validation stickers for this and that everywhere. the graphics were excellent. . but the "buy" button could not be found. i just felt that the website owner had got a bit carried away and had lost site of the reason for the website, and the website became a reason in itself.. I did email the website owner. . I got a response that basically said 'that my site was crap (ouch) and did not validate anyway and to go away'.

He is not selling anything! ??

so I asked the question.... Why do we do it?

[Webnauts]

The web page had validation stickers, but did it at least validate?

[Tubby]

John. I do not know if it validated. .

I swapped forums here because I did not want to discuss this 'what I see as a problem' and possibly offer an example if the website owner was readily available to give me some negative feedback. .

Its a good site, in the original question we were asked why the site was not selling. when I looked at the site I got the distinct feeling that the site was built for webmasters to comment on . . I really do not want to say what the site sold as WPW gets a lot of coverage.

but the question lingered on in my mind. The more I think about it the more it keeps recurring. Will we drop a customer or two - or three, just to satisfy our peers, are we self inflicting loss of sales on to ourselves. . I think some of us do. .

I think It is worth looking at, it interests me...

[Webnauts]

Are you about usability or end searcher optimization? Or both?

[Tubby]

John
"Are you about usability or end searcher optimization? Or both?'

no. neither really, its more about 'losing the plot' I think a percentage of new website owners come to forums like this with the intention of selling more products. get caught up in the whole SEO - good design thing - and simply loose the plot. they rebuild there sites from a WPW peers perspective.. . . This is not always a user or sometimes not even a true Google perspective.

I know what I mean John . . You cannot see the question I am asking?

I talked to someone who had a useful website that sold artworks. after two weeks of seeking some new knowledge at various forums, she ditched her WYSIWYG program that was 'unprofessional' she ditched her husband help (who originally helped her because he understood the editor. since that time she has been learning css and studying seo. . but not sold another artwork. Yes she might come back with a bang one day. . But originally she was an aspiring artist. . now she is an aspiring web designer come SEO.

I think the change over was partly due to false understanding that her WYSIWYG editor was ' unprofessional, and second rate ' Yes John it might be. But her paintings were first rate. and she no longer paints..

this is peer pressure - converting from a great artists website. . to a great website for an artist. - Losing the plot she felt she needed to lift her came to be taken seriously.

The wrong game.

I could probably give other examples of the other end of the spectrum that I have noticed over the last couple of years. but I was hoping to read other members views....

maybe not?

[Tubby]

John
"Are you about usability or end searcher optimization? Or both?'

no. neither really, its more about 'losing the plot' I think a percentage of new website owners come to forums like this with the intention of selling more products. get caught up in the whole SEO - good design thing - and simply loose the plot. they rebuild there sites from a WPW peers perspective.. . . This is not always a user or sometimes not even a true Google perspective.

I know what I mean John . . You cannot see the question I am asking?

I talked to someone who had a useful website that sold artworks. after two weeks of seeking some new knowledge at various forums, she ditched her WYSIWYG program that was 'unprofessional' she ditched her husband help (who originally helped her because he understood the editor. since that time she has been learning css and studying seo. . but not sold another artwork. Yes she might come back with a bang one day. . But originally she was an aspiring artist. . now she is an aspiring web designer come SEO.

I think the change over was partly due to false understanding that her WYSIWYG editor was ' unprofessional, and second rate ' Yes John it might be. But her paintings were first rate. and she no longer paints..

this is peer pressure - converting from a great artists website. . to a great website for an artist. - Losing the plot she felt she needed to lift her came to be taken seriously.

The wrong game.

I could probably give other examples at the other end of the spectrum that I have noticed over the last couple of years. but I was hoping to read other members views....

maybe not?