One thing is sure: change is inevitable.
And with change comes a flurry of emotions—excitement, anxiety, and everything in between.
When Google alters its algorithms, the reactions from SEO experts can range from joy to exasperation.
But what’s the emotional pulse of the SEO community these days regarding these constant updates?
Jess Joyce sparked a conversation on Twitter about the sentiment, and the responses were intriguing.
Dive into this curated collection of insights, analogies, and heartfelt admissions from SEO aficionados like Debi Norton, Jamar Ramos, and Travis.
As a bonus, discover how some industry pros relate their feelings about SEO changes to familiar songs, poems, or movies.
Are you ready for an #SEOchat?”
How are you feeling about the speed and amount of flux & change these days?
A1 Google has been changing algo’s since its inception. It will always be evolving – that’s the fun of SEO
Debi Norton
A1: I’m tired of the “move fast & break things” pace. Changes need to happen, but a lot of changes are starting to hurt people & businesses, all for the sake of testing things that could be tested in better ways So, I guess I’m feeling “Break Stuff” by Limp Bizkit
Jamar Ramos |
A1: Channeling Forrest Gump for this one: You never know what you’re gonna get. Stupid is as stupid does. You’ve got to put the past behind you before you can move on. What’s my destiny, Mama? You’re gonna have to figure that out for yourself.
travis
How has your work been effected with the core algo update that’s rolling out this week?
A2: Experiencing slight exposure loss (< impressions), but things already seem to be rebounding. Another reminder to embrace change. It’s inevitable and part of what makes SEO perpetually fun, innovative, and challenging. Create great content. All else will follow.
travis
A2: I’d just worked with a client to update their FAQs & add schema to them… I’m not as mad as I would’ve been about this change if it happened when I was younger in digital marketing. Google gonna change whatever, whenever. All we can do is our best
Jamar Ramos
A2: don‘t cheat & movement has improved with white hat
Jaroslaw Pidburskyj
How has your process changed this year with all the AI-related change in search – either internal or external?
A3 Anyone wanna answer this question?? I’ve seen it in PPC – using AI to change Ads according to searcher’s intent. And in SEO content writing – where that’s going to lead is still the definitive “unknown”.
Debi Norton
A3: I’ve added ChatGPT to help with creating blog outlines, but only as a last check. Once I’ve done my research & have my own outline, I’ll plug the topic into ChatGPT & see if I’ve missed anything That’s my biggest change. I’m a notorious last adopte
Jamar Ramos
A3: The fundamentals remain unchanged: – Focus on structured data – Prioritize UX – Produce worthy content Within SEO, few can see the forest for the trees. Any innovation (like AI tools) can augment our work, save time, and spur new ideas.
travis
How are you communicating all this change to clients and/or your team? Meetings? Notes? Links? Something else?
A4: Prepare a thoughtful response. Having a quick answer ready can instill confidence. Ask questions in your response. Inspire dialogue with: – What about X change concerns you? – What are you worried will happen? – Can you share data/articles to support this?
travis
A4: Communicating in our regular meetings, but only the information that matters. Transparency is important, but talking about EVERYTHING search engines are doing can lead us down a useless rabbit hole. I want to make my clients smarter, not more worried or confused
Jamar Ramos
A4: Notes work fine. No one is paying attention at those meetings
Sweepsify
Navigating the turbulent waters of SEO changes can inspire a range of emotions, as aptly captured by our SEO experts in this discussion.
From nostalgic references to Forrest Gump by Jamar Ramos to Travis’s advice on maintaining transparency in client interactions, the SEO community finds ways to cope, innovate, and keep its strategies sharp amidst the ever-shifting landscape.
The recurring theme remains: Embrace change, focus on the fundamentals, and use innovation like AI tools, especially in writing, to complement the workflow.
The beauty of SEO is its unpredictability.
As Debi Norton cleverly uses ChatGPT to refine her blog outlines or Jaroslaw Pidburskyj ponders the future of AI in ad changes, it’s evident that staying adaptive and resilient in this industry requires a mix of nostalgia, humor, and forward-thinking.
As complex as SEO may seem, it ultimately boils down to producing valuable content and enhancing the user experience.
The tools and strategies might evolve, but the core objective remains intact.
So, as you ponder the SEO changes and their effects on your strategies, remember that at its heart, SEO is about understanding, adapting, and innovating. Keep that in mind when you’re managing SEO projects.
As Jess Joyce’s tweet triggers, it’s essential to occasionally pause, reflect on our feelings about these shifts, and perhaps find a song or poem that encapsulates our sentiment.
Here’s to riding the SEO wave, with all its highs and lows. ? #SEOCHAT
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SEO is not dead. There’s just a lot more elements to it than there ever was.
Erica D’Arcangelo, Unscripted SEO Podcast
More elements, not fewer. Erica D’Arcangelo on the modern webmaster mentality in her Unscripted SEO episode.
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