SEO is DEAD, Long live SEO

It has been a long discussion between marketers and SEO specialists (even with Google) to figure out whether SEO as we know it is dead with the rise of Hummingbird, and overall the new Google policy.

Google, with its new algorithm giving a big place to content and less importance to links, raised the question about the approach we need to have in regard of SEO. Now that we have an idea a little bit more clear, we can say that SEO is d.e.a.d (i loved this play on word from Andrew Girdwood on the blog of Econsultancy, and I will reuse it here. Dead here stands for the 4 new components of any good SEO campaign (and Andrew is right, that's why I allow myself to reuse this concept) : Data, Engagement, Audience, Discovery.

Data are becoming harder and harder to track with the new Google Analytics , and it is clear now that Google is aiming for a new way to promote website by real interest, content ( i recommend our article about Content Creation for an information supplement ) and not by links and anchors anymore (it is still the mainstay of SEO, but it is loosing importance). So now we need to focus on the engagement, the audience and the discovery. It is all about engaging your targeted audience and let them share what they found.

It shows us that Social Media and SEO cannot be separated anymore, and Social Media are the traffic drivers now, because they offer share-able content to engage an audience you predefined before by engaging a conversation with your fans and followers. Social Media need to be social. So as Andrew said, d.e.a.d is a good way to remember the new motto in SEO strategy. 

Have a good weekend and Take it EZ.