Is SEO Spam Worse Than Social Spam?
Proponents of the new Web or those who like to push social media as replacing search engine optimization like to point out that SEO is so easily gamed. And social media isn’t?
Let’s be fair (and frank). Anywhere there are humans there are people who are doing something wrong. But you’ll likely find others are trying to do it right. That’s the way it’s always been. Is SEO more easily gamed than social media? No. It is gamed a little differently and it frustrates searchers when they search for information at their favorite search engine only to be faced with spam. I understand.
But I really don’t think search engine optimization spam is any worse than social spam. Do you? When it comes right down to it, spam is spam. The question is, what can we do about it and where do we go from here?
I have faith in the search engines to catch most of the spam. I can’t say the same for social media sites. It seems the search engines are better equipped to ditch the spam in social sites than the social site administrators are. In fact, I think some of those sites are set up specifically for the spammers.
The bright side of life is this: Google has a way for you to report spam. If you see spam in Google’s search engine, don’t just complain about it. Do something about it. Report it. And the make the web a better place.
3 Responses to “Is SEO Spam Worse Than Social Spam?”
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I think social spam is so much worst because we are more likely to trust human reviews, and testimonials than spammy search engine results.
Take for example when you come across multiple praises of a movie review on IMDB with exceptional individual ratings, while the movie has an overall rating of 6.2, then you start to realize how IMDB is being spammed by paid movie reviewers to hype up certain movies.
It is the worst when you can’t get back two hours of your time having sit through a dvd that sucked.
Social spam definitely sucks up more of our time than search engine spam.
The old method of advertising is interactive marketing. The term is misleading. Most people think it means that there is some type of interaction on the part of the person advertised to, and there is. But, it is not conversational. Instead, the advertiser wants you to interact with their campaign in a specific set of steps. Following the call to action and visiting a website for instance. It’s the push to make you do something. Live this image. Buy this now.
Social Media Marketing is just the opposite. It’s the pull of the tribe. The tribe already has your trust so the actions they take are ones you align with. On a larger scale, it’s the allure of belonging in the group as you take action together. “I am doing this so why don’t you do it with me?” On an individual level, the attraction is to behave the same way to get the same results that benefits your fellow tribeswoman or tribesman. “She looks hot! I want to look hot too. I want to go to her hairstylist” and you do. Social Media Marketing uses the power of attraction.
While advertising tries to use the same tactic, with a billboard for instance, of a gorgeous woman telling you the benefits of the salon, it doesn’t have the same impact because it’s pushing you to go. It is not pulling you in as a trusted friend. Your friends have your best interests at heart and advertisers do not. Social Media Marketing is based on building trust and that foundation will make Social Media a dominant player in Marketing.
That’s all very enlightening, Brand. But I thought this post was about spam.