Don’t Lose Your Credibility With Your SEO

Writing by Nick Stamoulis on Thursday, August 20, 2009 Comments (4)

It may come as a surprise, but great search engine optimization isn’t the most important thing online. Yes, you want to have the best optimized, user focused web pages that you can write. Outstanding SEO should always be a goal. But then so should bolstering your credibility. But if I had to choose one or the other, I’d choose credibility over great SEO any day. Here’s why:

SEO means your web pages rank well, but it doesn’t mean people are buying

Credibility will always have staying power

Someone can always come along and knock you off your SEO mountain

If you have credibility, people listen

Great optimization just means you have a ranking presence

Awesome SEO does not necessarily translate into trustworthy character or credibility

If you are credible then people will reach out to you

Not only will people reach out to you, but they will tell their friends

If you are not credible and rank No. 1 for your keywords, as soon as someone does business with you then your rankings won’t matter. They’ll go somewhere else and tell their friends to as well. But if you are credible and can prove it, it doesn’t matter where you rank. People will find you and tell their friends.

Of course, if at all possible, go for great SEO and credibility at the same time. But don’t sacrifice any lambs.

Comments (4) Category: SEO

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4 Comments

Comment by Jim Ford

Made Friday, 21 of August , 2009 at 8:39 am

Right on, Nick. As a sophomore to SEO, I believe the guide to making decision is integrity. Personal and corporate integrity is all any of us have. Don’t lose it.

Comment by Nick Stamoulis

Made Friday, 21 of August , 2009 at 11:46 am

Hi Jim – Thanks for your comment, integrity is all of us have for sure!

Comment by Sharon Swendner

Made Wednesday, 26 of August , 2009 at 9:10 am

Who says there has to be a trade off. Can’t you have both?

Comment by Nick Stamoulis

Made Wednesday, 26 of August , 2009 at 11:21 am

Hi Sharon – You certainly can have credibility and an excellent SEO program as well.