Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has become a hobby of mine over the last year. My first real introduction to SEO came about during a visit with the Founder/CEO of a Seattle startup named Optify. Over the course of demoing their app (which, in part, analyzes a site’s SEO performance) against one of my websites I was completely schooled – we had neglected even the most simple optimizations, such as our site’s title tag!
Since then I’ve spent a good amount of time learning how to create/implement/manage search engine optimization strategies. There remains much to learn, however and speaking as an entrepreneur (not really a hacker), SEO is just plain exciting! There are an almost limitless number of ways you can create/apply search engine optimization strategy and everything you do (right or wrong) is completely measurable and has the potential to directly affect your biz’s bottom line.
Aside from a small number of pre-packaged tools that are out there (such as the Thesis WordPress theme), implementing and managing an SEO strategy does require a certain degree of technical skill. Having worked with a good number of web/software developers, I was somewhat shocked (at least at first) to learn that the majority of our extended crew either 1) didn’t know squat about SEO or 2) disregarded it as something that was beneath them. As Rand Fishkin says: it’s not “if you build it, they will come”, it’s “if you SEO it, they will come”.
For those who may not know, Rand Fishkin is the Founder/CEO of SEOmoz.org, one of the primary authorities on search engine optimization tools, tips, resources, etc. Below is a presentation Rand recently gave at Ycombinator entitled “SEO For Startups”. The presentation is very understandable – even for those who may be new to search engine optimization – and makes some very compelling points as to why startups should make it a priority from day one. I especially like the title of slide 34: “SEO Punishes Big Orgs that Can’t Change”. What entrepreneur/startup doesn’t get excited about something like that?
Below I’ve included Rand’s complete presentation. You can also find Rand’s original post (including some vary valuable presentation notes/translations) over at his blog.
SEO for Startups: YCombinator February 2010
