Evolution in SEO Industry

Description:    According to Google, a media outlet that has old content is akin to selling out-of-date food at a grocery store. It’s a big no-no and, if caught perpetrating this type of content, it will be punished by receiving a significant drop in search engine visibility – and rightly so.

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Source: Forbes.com

Date: May 31. 2016

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While we know Google has been a naysayer about old content for some time and raised the bar on what defines good content by going after content farms, companies with static websites, and even big brands like eBay, this move to strike out at some of the biggest publishing brands in the industry, including Apple, The Washington Post, Time and The New York Times, tells us Google is at it again by making major changes to its algorithm. Some of the bigger hits included a nearly 80% drop in SEO visibility for TheAtlantic.com and a 65% reduction in mobile visibility for Wired.com.  read rest of story

Questions:
1.  Why is the SEO feeling a need to evolve?

2.  Should you manage your SEO within your organization or outsource it to an SEO firm?  Why or Why not?

49 thoughts on “Evolution in SEO Industry

  1. Pingback: What does an SEO expert’s day look like? – Affordable SEO Services

  2. Paul Jackson

    When determining whether it is more or less effective for an organization to outsource their search engine optimization or to manage it within their own organization a number of different factors come into play. The most important of these factors is the size of the business itself. For example, a small mom and pop business most likely does not have the capital or resources to utilize an in house SEO method. Having someone with the necessary technological know how would most likely mean hiring an information technology focused employee and that would just be too expensive. The exception to that rule would be if one or more of the business owners or employees already had the skills and background needed to implement an effective SEO strategy. (This is not a bad idea ion the business world these days. In my case that was the main reason I got into accounting was that I wanted to be able to offer more to a business than just my entrepreneurial abilities. I wanted to have in depth knowledge of at least one specific area).

    The second factor to consider would be the target market or the audience one is trying to reach and whether or not the costs involved would be justified by the corresponding increase in sales. For example if you are a large multi national company with a global reach and market, it may be best to handle SEO tasks within your own company. This becomes clear when you start to consider the numbers. If you hire an in house professional in the area of SEO you can be sure to get the best results and most control. The job that this one person does could result in the companies product being seen by millions more people all around the globe.

    Reply
  3. Kimberly Eckert

    I believe if your organization has the capability and obtains knowledgeable resources to manage your SEO, then I believe they should do so. If a company manages it themselves, they will have an in-depth view of what, when and how people are operating in regard to their organization. Through software programs, employees have the ability to keep track of what time of day people search their site, what key words were entered in their personal computer for it to result in their website as an option, the number of times someone clicked on their link when it was viable or an option, compared to the times where it was an option but was never clicked on. All of this information can be stored in a database for statistical analysis and can be used to analyze people’s computer usage and habits in regard to their site. Organizations can use this data to help determine what they need to do differently and how to attract more people to their site, whether it be outside sources to implement algorithms in order to create more online traffic and become more visible on the web, and take an internal action and alter or revamp their site, such as using key words to make their link more appealing and attractive to the typical web user. With that being said, I do believe if it’s a start-up company and or one with limited resources, I do believe outsourcing an SEO firm may be a more appropriate option, as this could help get a company’s name out there more quickly, especially if its brand new to the market.

    Reply
  4. Guji Adula

    1) It is because No on is expert on SEO it appears to be that SEO professional is often seen as trustworthy, confident, knowledgeable, and dedicated. In reality, most SEO pros are actually too busy and have a million other things to do that they don’t always feel confident as they are perceived to be.For his part, Shephard asserts that: “I’m not an expert in SEO, I’m just making it up as I go along.”Since there’s really no concrete roadmap for SEO, practitioners should learn to adapt to what’s thrown at them. With Google introducing a variety of search engine results page (SERP) features in the last two years, organic results are getting fewer clicks. Google recently increased the length of meta descriptions from 150 to 300 characters. This might become another SERP threat because meta descriptions might already contain the answer to the searcher’s query, negatively affecting
    2) I believe that outsourcing SEO is the best way for a business it will help owners to lower cost and get the best tech available by other providers. companies can tailor budget spend based on the strategies that will have the best impact for your business. If different software tools or third-party subscriptions help improve your rankings, a marketing firm will make that shift – but you will never be able to decrease an in-house SEO professionals salary to free up budget for other expenses. Outsourcing your SEO is a great way to access different strengths for every subfield of search engine optimization. An agency typically has UX and graphic designers, content marketers, website developers, PPC professionals, and SEO strategists that all have unique insights on how to help your business thrive.

    Reply
  5. Ryan diflorio

    1. SEO is feeling the need to evolve because it is similar to every other industry in the sense that if you do not evolve then you will be left behind. Google being the top search engine in the world technically has an obligation to evolve and in some cases be the industry leader to change. As they may be the first company making these changes, they will be criticized because they are first. Google holds themselves to a very high standard and they are number one for a reason so it is evident that every decision has been thought about very intensely.
    2. I think it insourcing and keeping the SEO within the organization would be the better choice because SEO is such a large and important part of the business, providing a faulty SEO could result in lost business and in this case could result in Google losing their #1 spot to someone like BING.

    Reply
  6. Danielah Uzonwa

    Making sure you have the most efficient tools for your company is very important. As the data and information out in the world is evolving, so should SEOs. For anyone to get the right knowledge they have to source that information from a valid place.
    Whether or not a company should in source or outsource this task, depends on if the company has the capacity for it. There’s things like funds, personnel, facilities etc that tie into sourcing a task. If the company feels they can take up the task, they should be aware of the risk of leaked confidential information which gives the outsourced party some leverage over the company. If they don’t outsource then they can improve their SEO with the advantage of putting their company at top places for searches. Everything depends on the capability of the company.

    Reply
  7. Jennifer Biglin

    1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) needs to evolve because to put it bluntly and simply, the world leader in search engines is evolving. If Google is reimaging and changing its algorithm to fit its own growing business and demand, then companies that use it should as well. It seems like a pretty easy equation to me. The only downside is that some companies are not ready or do not want to evolve to meet Google’s standards because they have their own markets, targets and inspirations to meet. Yet, it does leave an opening for those that do not agree with Google and its sneakiness (even though the company does say they have not done anything until the intended date of release) it gives other search engines such as Yahoo, Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer and Bing to make deals with these companies that are not on board with Google’s standards, to rather enhance their deals with companies, websites, and search words.
    2. I think managing it within your organization is worthwhile. By keeping the sourcing of this within the company (insourcing) it not only provides jobs for those in the company and surrounding areas, but it also gives the company a sense of ease to make sure what they are looking for is fulfilled. Making sure that a company has someone internally focusing on SEO, rather reveals the importance of also creating more jobs! Additionally, technology is ever-changing so the jobs will be too.

    Reply
  8. Tyson Wirun

    1. Its very important that SEO keeps evolving as all other technology is evolving, as well as time changing and new information becoming available. Obviously it needs to keep upgrading in terms of other technology evolves as it needs to keep up with it. For example if google does not constantly upgrade its SEO other sites like Bing and stuff could start catching up to googles SEO which is what separates google from its competitors. With time chasing as well it constantly needs to be updating as you likely want stuff near the top that is recent and more reliable information then something coming to the top of the SEO that may be completely useless with old irrelevant information. Also people want the newer better and more efficient technology.

    2. If you are a big Firm like google you should manage you’re own SEO, and if you’re a smaller company then you should likely outsource. Obvisouly with having an internal system you can customize it to you’re companies specific needs or wants, and can use it as an organizational strength. A downfall to insourcing is that if you mess up with you’re SEO its on you’re company and no one else is to blame for the mistake. Where as outsourcing the responsibility would be on the organization you go through, it also helps if you don’t know much about SEO to go through one of these companies. Insourcing would likely be the cheaper option although and you would have a way better control f the program itself.

    Reply
  9. Grace Noble

    SEO is feeling the need to evolve because the information we consume is constantly changing. We, as consumers, want current and reliable information and Google recognizes this is something that needs to be addressed. I think it is great that Google wants to try and thin out those websites that are trying to skirt the system by updating the bare minimum to keep their information populating when we use a search engine. Companies should focus on updating their information in a manner that is legitimate in order to stay competitive. Consumers do not want to search for information or an item and find the information or the item no longer current. For example, if I’m searching for a news article, I want the most recent posting as opposed to a posting from days or even weeks ago.

    I think it depends on the capabilities of your organization. In larger organizations it would make sense to have the SEO in house but for smaller organizations it would probably make more sense to outsource SEO. Ultimately it comes down to controlling costs and whether or not the organization can afford to manage an SEO in house or if it makes more sense to outsource SEO. There are definite pros and cons to either course of action but one of the biggest cons is the lack of privacy when outsourcing. An organization gives up control and risks privacy when outsourcing. I’m not saying a company should not outsource, but the organization should be aware of the risks. Of course, as mentioned before having an in house SEO is not always feasible, and outsourcing becomes the only viable options.

    Reply
  10. Sarah Andrews

    1: Search engine optimization feels the need to evolve, in my opinion, due to many reasons. The first of these reasons could be the competition aspect of evolving. If they aren’t the ones to evolve in making their search engine the fastest and the most up to date, someone else will. If someone else (another search engine) takes it upon themselves to evolve, consumers are more likely to go with the more optimized option, indicating that there will be less users using a certain search engine if they are not evolving. Another reason could be the ever increasing technological systems that society is faced with. As technology continues to increase, companies and search engines need to keep up in order to stay on top of the marketplace. Using an older technology system for your search engine could also indicate a slower output for users, which goes along with competition in saying that these consumers will be more inclined to choose a search engine that uses a newer technology system.
    2. I can see the appeal in outsourcing, mostly due to the cost reduction that this has the opportunity to grant to the search engine. With a decrease in cost, the search engine is better able to spend their budget on different improvements, such as speed and up-to-date information. With the increase in money spent on these improvements, the possibility of more consumers choosing this search engine increases, giving them the opportunity for a competitive advantage.

    Reply
  11. Karla Otte

    1. As information is rapidly changing all the time, Search Engine Optimization is feeling a need to evolve. It is not a good business practice to show outdated information. I was researching coronavirus the other day, and the first results for it in Alberta were from January 31st, when it was not in Alberta. Within the past few days, 4 cases have been confirmed, something that was not easily found upon initial search. The internet is the best way for the population to get news and updates, but it is unhelpful if it is not constantly staying up to date. If Search Engine Optimization does not evolve, the search engine will lose users to a search engine with more up-to-date information.

    2. While it may be preferable to manage Search Engine Optimization within an organization, I think that it makes more sense to outsource it to an SEO firm. Not only will this reduce costs, but it also ensures that people who specialize in SEO are directly managing and working to optimize your search engine. While it would mean giving up a bit of direct control over your search engine, I believe that the benefits of saving money could outweigh the negatives. That being said, if there is already an effective SEO team within the organization, then that is where the work should stay. Only if there is either not a team, or the expertise is not there to carry out the work needed should the organization outsource this work.

    Reply
  12. Kaede Akutsu

    1. I think that SEO feels a need to evolve because technology is changing constantly. So, if the company decides not to evolve, the company loses control and they will survive within these types of industries. By evolving, it allows them to grow constantly. Moreover, these media companies had fallen while the desktop search engine rankings remained the same. I think that it is important to focus on new and differentiated content because just relying on existing content to maintain its search engine rank does not work in this particular industry. So, specialized content is essential to evolve. Using SEO is useful for companies such as Google because it is able to gather attention and visitors.
    2.I think that I should manage my SEO within my organization rather than outsource it to an SEO firm because outsource is costly, and it is not effective. I feel that if I am able to manage my SEO within my organization, I probably do myself because there are no security and privacy problems. Once problems occur, companies are hard to recover from. However, outsourcing is also easy and beneficial to us because people are knowledgeable, so they will do better work. Moreover, the company is able to save time. I think that saving time is important because employees are able to do another task while they do SEO. So, I think that it depends on the industry. If they need to save money and protect information, they should do it themselves. ON the other hand, if they need to save time, they should outsource.

    Reply
    1. Callum Hakin

      1. Search engine optimization is feeling the need to evolve for a couple of key reasons. As we all know technology information is always being updated and changed to meet the hefty demands of marketers and their needs to advertise to consumers. Another key reason why Search engine optimization is feeling the need to evolve is because there is always such a high demand for the most modern and pertinent information there is. Search engines are also always trying to keep their users happy and to do that they must adapt otherwise they will lose customers/users to the latest and greatest search engine.

      2. I personally believe that pros of owning your own Search engine optimization firm greatly outweighs the cons. Outsourcing your SEO is a costly and dangerous thing to do. If you outsource your SEO you have no control in the privacy , how things are being run. There is also a massive problem that goes with security, without having the dominant say in how security is being run you run the risk of losing face if massive leak goes public. This could ultimately ruin your company. One of the major benefits of operating your own SEO and not outsourcing it you are able keep your finger on the pulse and decide personally when and how to adapt to current problems. You are also in control of privacy and security which is absolutely vital when operating such an important database. With being the leader you should be directly in charge, not someone else.

      Reply
  13. Brooklynn Peters

    1. Search Engine Optimization is feeling the need to evolve because it is surrounded by an ever-increasing technological world and with this, there are many advanced algorithms being released. SEO needs to play catch-up to these algorithms simply because it is an outdated system. SEO is very important for businesses to show up on search engines or they can drastically lose business. SEO is required in order for a business to succeed in this modern technological world.
    2. Although it would be ideal to optimize SEO from within the organization, outsourcing would probably be the most efficient option. Outsourcing Search Engine Optimization has benefits a company financially, improves efficiency, and ensures the job is done by someone who specializes in the industry. There are also many risks to outsourcing as well as you lose some form of control within your company. If one were able to find someone with equivalent qualifications within the firm it may be a better option as they would know what was best for your company. Overall, I believe it would most likely be simpler to outsource SEO.

    Reply
  14. ismahan ali

    1. The reason SEO is feeling the need to evolve is that technology information is constantly being shared and updated based on the consumers interest. If SEO continues to make barely changes to its algorithm then it would not be able to sufficiently satisfy the consumer’s and competitors needs as the information would be irrelevant. Especially when business’s are paying extensive amount of money to have their message directed to their target, it is important to have a good search engine to key in on those new potential customers who is looking for their product.
    2. There are plenty of benefits when it comes to outsourcing SEO such as having a broad extensive research down from an outsider prospective without having leaving any details that may seem as unnecessary from those inside the organization. The downside would be extensive cost if the job can be preformed internally as well as information collected may not be new information to those inside the organization as outsiders don’t know what the organization already knows. The benefits of internal SEO would be saving cost, know exactly what is expected to be accomplished, and if needed future adjustments, they can do so easily.

    Reply
  15. Brianne Fujimoto-Johnston

    1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is beginning to feel a need to evolve due to the quickly changing nature of information. New information and data are constantly being released and search engines should be able to keep up with this. Especially with the increase in technological advancements and innovation recently, search engine optimization should adapt as well. SEO is used to improve the quality of search results for its users. If algorithms for these search engines are dated, the process and results will not be as good. Search engines need to keep up the quality and quantity of search results, so they do not lose users to other competitors. It is important to continue to update your internal systems to keep consumers.
    2. I think managing search engine optimization would ideally be better if done within the organization rather than through outsourcing. Though outsourcing can provide a higher level of expertise, it can bring additional costs to the company that could be avoided if done internally. If the company has employees that can manage SEO efficiently and effectively then it would be more advantageous to do so. Internal management also allows for more control, better communication, and better cohesion. The risk of losing confidential material is also lower if management is done from within the organization. Privacy issues could potentially be an issue when dealing with outside firms. If choosing outsourcing, the organization would need to make sure there are procedures and contracts in place to prevent this from occurring.

    Reply
  16. Mikayla Gerosa

    I believe that each engine optimization should be continuously updated as its purpose is to provide the user with the most relevant information. An outdated search engine may cause users to have a difficult time finding what they need. As with most things in technology an update is usually beneficial.
    When deciding to control a company’s search engine optimization internally or outsource, one would to asses if the company is able to successfully operate the SEO or be able to trust the people working for the outsourcers. Internally operating the SEO would ensure more confidentiality than outsourcing and would allow employees who work for the company to have more control. This would also lead to employees focusing on this task rather than others which could be costly depending on the type of company. The pros and cons of outsourcing is the opposite of running the SEO internally. The benefit is that the current employees would not have to loose focus on original tasks but there is a risk of confidentially.

    Reply
  17. Emily Poelman

    Search engine optimization is feeling the need to evolve because of the vastly changing world. Since there is a never ending need for information now it has become very important for businesses to stay ahead. When content is pushed to the second page of google they are viewed very seldom because most people will use the most handy information, so the content on the first page of google will almost always be used before second page content. When businesses make sure that their content is up to date, and relevant it will help increase sales. Also making sure that content is fitting the demand of the customers is very important. Constant SEO growth is necessary in order to make sure that content is relevant and what consumers want.
    I think it depends on what you’re doing and if your organization has the tools necessary to provide quality, relevant information. For companies that specialize in SEO and have the tools and knowledge to do so it would be beneficial for them to insource. However, I think that a lot of organizations that do not specialized in SEO would benefit from outsourcing SEO. Due to the amount that needs to go into SEO it could be hard for a company to learn and gather the tools necessary while staying on top doing so. If they outsource SEO then they can make sure that their content is what they need it to be, and they would have to waste resources on something they might not be good at doing.

    Reply
  18. Gwendolyn Fillinger

    1) Search Engine optimization is needing to evolve because of the never-ending need for information. Since technology has become a highly used item in this generation, by evolving the SEO to keep up with the constant changing of programs and technology it keeps individuals and companies are their toes. As well companies are needed to change the SEO very little but not a lot. By staying up to date with the changes in SEO, companies will be able to keep business up to speed with the changing programs and services.
    2)It really depends on what needs to be done and if you have the right personnel that can do the job. By managing your own SEO, you can be aware of the updates and when you need to update it again. But by outsourcing, you will have to take into consideration the costs of outsourcing. It can be beneficial to keep it within the organization because of the security measures and potential for company information to be leaked. I think it all depends on what the organization needs and who can best provide it for them.

    Reply
    1. Janesa Klein

      1) Search Engine Optimization feels the need to evolve because everything surrounding it is. Information on the internet is constantly evolving to the consumers interests and what they want to see. The SEO needs to evolve because taking old information and changing a word or two does not make it new information. If the SEO continues to just change a couple words and call it new information then it will lose the customers interests and not satisfy their needs. Businesses are paying thousands of dollars to have their message be sent to consumers and if their message isn’t getting across than google itself will lose a lot of money.
      2) There is many pros and cons to each option on insourcing or outsourcing, but in my person opinion I believe outsourcing is the better option. The reason I say outsourcing is better is because you get people to look inside the company and you get opinions from people who aren’t apart of the company. It might be more expensive to outsource but then you get different views. There is a risky of releasing confidential information about the company to someone outside the company but there are risks to everything we do. If there is someone inside the company who is capable of managing the SEO than I would try that first and if they aren’t able to do it then I would turn to outsourcing.

      Reply
  19. Imelda Tettey

    The SEO is feeling a need to evolve due to the fact that their old system has the same content, but being regenerated as new content with only minor changes. They need to start bringing in fresh new ideas as well as experts in order to bring in new content which will then target specific customers. The concept of keeping up the times and the changes that are occurring is the reason why there is a need for them to evolve.
    It Is important to try and outsource to individuals who understands the exact thing that your business needs as well as your businesses end goal. With google making their SEO AL better and smarter, they have the ability to enocurage other companies to shift their focus towards newer content on their search engines. Changes will keep on happening but SEO need to adapt and find the opportunities in the midst of challenges.

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  20. Dallas

    1. Search engine optimization is constantly evolving to satisfy the never-ending demand for the most recent and relevant information. Businesses need to provide relevant information or risk being bumped down to the second page of Google, a place that all but guarantees that they’ll never be viewed. SEO is feeling the need to evolve as Google has been rolling out new algorithms, making it harder for companies to simply change small things and call their information “updated”. Companies need to evolve to provide their readers with new and differentiated content or risk losing their rank on the Google search page. It’s Google that is raising the bar on what it expects from content, but it is no doubt fueled by consumers demanding to have exactly the information they want at the top of the screen the first time they search something.

    2. Depending on the size and resources that your firm has I think it may be vital to outsource the management of your SEO. If you want to have any chance of staying competitive in the market place you must have optimal SEO. An SEO firm knows the ins and out of Google’s algorithms, something that is very important if your company is to stay relevant. When you outsource the management of SEO to a firm you can spend more time focussing on making sure your business works well and leave SEO up to the firm. The leader of the company should make sure the business stays relevant in todays market, the SEO firm should make sure your business can be found.

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  21. Kim Hood

    2. Technology is becoming more regulated, and with regulation comes the need to enhance operations in both long and short term. New and improved ideas are becoming available to these retailers through data collection, and with that comes a new method of business. Customer satisfaction should be a priority along with ethics and effective communication. With the rise of online advertising companies need to be quick to change. A fresh new look is not bad, because the outdated methods are creating an opportunity and platform to change and evolve. Creativity seems to be on the rise by demanding significant changes to content. This change appears to be making businesses think about strategy and daily operating and how to align with their vision and missions. Google is platform and should be creating standards for advertising if it wants to remain competitive. I think these changes are kind of neat because it offers authenticity and differentiates brands.

    I think the SEO should be managed within the organization because it is linked to the company. There needs to be some commitment and dedication to improving companies’ content. If companies want people reading their content, they need to be competitive and provide information that is in demand.

    Reply
  22. Analiese Vissers

    SEO is feeling a need to evolve because companies seem to be putting out content that is more or less the same but with the configuration or a few words changed. This in term seems to beat the system that Google has set in place and keeps the page as top priority even though the content is basically the same. I feel as though Google is in the right with their outlook on what content should be put out in order for the pages to be optimized. Putting out content that is up to date, relevant, and interesting is something that customers are looking for and is what ultimately leads to the companies having a better reputation and greater sales. The digital and social media world largely bases the success and exposure that companies and individuals have on the content that they produce and I would agree with Google in the sense that if pages aren’t putting out new and engaging content, they should not be prioritized in search results.

    I feel as though outsourcing SEO is more beneficial today for companies because with Google’s new approach it seems that a lot of research needs to be done in order to provide good and engaging content that consumers are more likely to view. When social media and digital marketing was first starting out, SEO was more manageable for the company to take on by themselves but with the growth that the industry has been seeing and the terms for grabbing that top spot in search results, outsourcing SEO appears to be the most efficient and effective option.

    Reply
  23. wencai jiang

    1. As SEO becoming a more important role, companies need to invest more in the search engine optimization. As experts in the field of SEO, or search engine optimization, we know that the right SEO can make or break a business online. So it is important that to involve.
    2.After understand the important of involve SEO. I believe we should manage SE within the organization. With my research I found that SEO is important because it keeps the search results fair. It reduces the ability to manipulate these results as much as possible, so that the sites appearing for each search are there because they deserve to be there. Hard work and a website that appeals to visitors correlate with high search engine rankings, so if our site meets these criteria, we will have a better chance at showing up in the results.

    Reply
  24. Devyn Hurry

    Why is the SEO feeling a need to evolve?
    Because there is a significant problem of content farms and marketing firms finding exploits within the algorithm of google that cause sites that do not necessarily deserve the top results, to be moved to the top of the page. The changes to SEO allows for an equal playing field from the web giants with billions at their disposal and the local mom and pop shop that would like representation online. SEO optimization from google’s standpoint allows for everybody to have a fair chance at exposure. By catering to change, it allows smaller less beaurocratic companies to respond quicker then large ones. Not only that but it means that people who actually care about their businesses or webpages are more likely to make themselves relevant. As opposed to dead sites clogging up the arteries of web real estate.

    2. Should you manage your SEO within your organization or outsource it to an SEO firm? Why or Why not?

    Really depends on what my core competency is. If I specialize in brand or website development it makes sense to insource this process. But for me and my business? It makes sense to pay someone else to do this process. I have no idea how to stay relevant, and my hours will be wasted trying to learn something that I could easily pay an expert to do in less time and better.
    The problem is that– Can you trust that the ” professionals” are up to date on the changes to the SEO that google puts out? Will The professionals be on their game, or are you closer to the pulse of the world? That creates a problem for your business as well. You may know that the industry stratagies are changing but may not know how to capitalize on it, while your partners may know how to use old stratagies but not new stratagies… It will keep ” experts” in SEO humble, and create a dynamic, competitive and challenging industry for any professional.
    This raises an interesting question though…. To what extent can you trust ANY professional in SEO? How dob you know if they are up to date or simply pulling wool over your eyes? Is this an industry that needs to be certified and gets special insider knowledge? Who knows what the future of Marketing will entail for the online world.

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  25. MUSKAAN WALIA

    The SEO is feeling the need to evolve due to our evolving world that changes and progresses by the day if not by the minute. There is new information and discoveries being made very regularly and if the bar for what content is posted is not high than people will stop using the search engines as frequently and will go to alternate places to find high quality content. They must also do this to keep their intellectual customers satisfied and to stay on top against competitors. I think it is a good thing that they are doing this as it ensures everything we see is posted after careful consideration and since they are even considering collaborating with more post-secondary intuitions, I think the content will only become better with time.
    I would personally outsource it to a SEO firm so I can focus on other things within my organization and so it can be in the hands of someone who will handle it professionally and is skilled in this line of work. I also think setting up a SEO would be expensive within an organization and time consuming. However, the benefit of keeping it within would be that I would control every aspect of it at any given time. I would ensure good quality and know how to target it based on the region. Additionally, it would be kept private and there would be no issue about information being leaked to competitors or outsiders.

    Reply
  26. Allissa Marchand

    1) I understand why SEO is feeling like it needs to evolve and they are absolutely correct. Whilst our world is evolving, search engine optimization has to follow suit. If they are repurposing old information that consumers have already seen they will start to rely less on SEO and more on social media outlets, as well as consumers, organizations will start to catch on and use less advertising capital to promote their business on S.E’s and will turn to cheaper options like instagram where you can pay for ads or get free advertising if you are able to grow your following. These SEO’s need to get better at scanning through content and deleting outdated information or advertisements. They need to act fast because they realistically dont have much time before organizations spend their capital on more effective, efficient platforms.

    2) It definitely depends on the costs of outsourcing vs internally managing your SEO, if you are able to get people internally that are relevant experts and know what up and coming needs your business faces. If you have that internally then outsourcing isn’t necessarily beneficial. on the other hand if you do not have this internally you are able to pick from a much larger pool of skills and core competencies if you are outsourcing. In most cases outsourcing may be the best option because there are many more options to choose from and you are able to find the people/persons best suited for the direction you are heading with your company.

    Reply
  27. Julissa Rist

    Changes to SEO algorithms are dropping the Atlantic & Wired? Fantastic. Those are the most clickbaity sites. In fact, this article is making me respect google more than I thought I did. They are working hard to make sure they create a level playing field. The fact that they’re fixing the bugs that allow people to “play the system” shows that they appreciate their role in bringing relevant and reliable information to the front page for their users. It supports real journalism that is investigating new and relevant stories and doesn’t just support the current big brand names because they are the big brand names.
    These changes to SEO algorithms reverse the article about the financial industry. You can’t simply learn how the algorithms work and then half your workforce. Instead, it forces you to focus on your competitive advantage as a company and bring forward that content. Which requires creative talent from an innovative team (not yet available in robot).
    As a small firm, or a start-up company. I wouldn’t see the need to outsource your SEO. Because it has been optimized to show the most authentic content, the best way to be discovered online is to do what you do well. Know your point of differentiation as a company. AKA know your ‘why’, and by creating content and pursuing that goal you will be able to gain traction within that domain. Maybe take the time to research the basics of how it works, or sit with an expert for a consultation, but outsourcing your SEO doesn’t seem necessary.

    Reply
  28. Joseph Ogunleye

    1. Search engine optimization feels the need to evolve because it is trying to keep up with the evolution of content. In order to prove users with better results and compete with competitors, they have to evolve to stay on top. Also, since the older outdated systems rely on the content that is typically already seen by consumers. To keep customers satisfied, SEOs must adapt to their likes and needs otherwise they will easily lose business to other competing firms who are doing better.

    2. Outsourcing SEO could be beneficial in the way that it could lead to financial benefits (saving money with lower labour costs), as well as the acquisition of skilled employees (depending on where you outsourced from), it could also allow the business to focus more on other tasks. However, it can also have its cons, especially regarding security issues, as well with goal miscommunication, and stress. I think it would be best to keep something like this in-house, oppose to outsourcing because data security is a huge problem in our day and age, so anything that can be done to protect it is key. If individuals are having problems with their data security, I don’t think it would be wise for a company worth millions of dollars to be risking the same thing by outsourcing because anything can happen when information is being transferred to and from the headquarter country. It would also be wise to keep information and production in home because it would limit communication issues due to language/culture barriers.

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  29. Temara Ebelher

    1. I believe the SEO needs to evolve is because the information keeps changing more and more each day. In order for the search engine optimization to provide users with the most recent information the system needs to be able to keep up to the new information that is discovered each day. If businesses want to provide their customers with the most recent information it is important for the business to continuously update their website to provide their customers with the most recent information. Customers will be more satisfied if the company keeps up to date because they can see what the company has to offer them.
    2. Outsource the company’s SEO can have both benefits and negatives; however, I do believe it is best to keep it within the organization. I believe this because security problems can occur and there would higher chance to leak the company’s information if the company chooses to outsource. The company’s information could be leaked to a company that would use this information in a harmful way. If the information is kept within the company only individuals who are involved within the organization will have control over this information. These individuals will also want to use this information to help benefit the company as much as possible because in long run it will also benefit themselves. If the company does choose to outsource the company’s SEO it is very important to trust the outsourcers because like I mentioned above if the information gets in the wrongs hands it can be harmful towards the company.

    Reply
  30. Carter Potts

    1. SEO feels a need to evolve because content is evolving. And as a result of content evolving, search engine algorithms have also evolved to give better results to search engine users. With “click-bait” and “cookie cutter” content invading the internet, a search engine algorithm that rewards new and engaging content is ideal. As a result of the updated algorithms, SEO practitioners need to adapt their use of it to increase their site’s views on search engines.

    2. I think SEO should be outsourced. It is no different than marketing, which tends to be one of a firm’s largest expenses. Especially with how often search engine algorithms change, editing a firm’s SEO, and their web presence in general, should be a full-time job. The amount of time spent to keep updated on search engine algorithm trends would be better spent on other tasks, and paying experts would be an efficient use of funds. However, a marketing representative from the firm should work with the SEO firm in order to align goals and marketing strategies.

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  31. Jamie Huynh

    1. The SEO’s feeling of evolution would just be important like acquiring knowledge, or even perhaps growing up. It wants to learn more, be smarter, grow. By doing this it allows itself to do more. The world is growing at a rapid pace and the SEO needs to grow at the same rate in order for it to keep up with all the information it can obtain. Plus, there is always flaws and bugs that can be fixed or altered in the long run. I feel like the SEO will never stop evolving and the need to evolve is a necessity in order to keep up with the demands of the world.

    2. I would say that it is better to have the SEO work for us internally to identify specific things that only our organization has the expertise in. Outsourcing could be beneficial in some ways. For example, if we were to do this in another country, it might be best to outsource a company in that region. The outsourcing company will have the information about that country that can push the expansion of our organization with the resources they currently have. So, really this depends on the situation we are handed and the approach we decide to go with.

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  32. reena

    The data and information are changing rapidly. To maintain trust and a positive impact on the users the search engine optimization (SEO) needs to evolve. If the information that the users are retrieving is outdated, then they might lose interest in the sites that they are accessing. To solve the queries of the users is the main motive of the search engines, so not having relevant and up to date information could be ineffective.
    Outsourcing SEO has many benefits, such as financial benefits, get skilled-worker, or increase in-house efficiency. If you outsource to a country like India, then you might be able to cut costs and find skilled workers to do your job, but this might not be the best choice for your firm. Having SEO outsourced might be a risky move for the firm. Quality, language, and losing control over your firm are some of the potential disadvantages of outsourcing. It is better you hire an expert in your firm who can do the job as efficiently as outsourcing. This could be an expansive move, but it is beneficial to your employees and customers. Knowing that their jobs are secure can be an encouraging factor to be more productive. Customers are also happy and satisfied due to their loyalty to the firm.

    Reply
  33. Trevor Sampson

    1. I think he search engine optimization feels the need to due to the outdated algorithm that is used, especially when compared to competitors. In this day and age, businesses prosper from having a good search engine.
    2. The idea of whether to outsource or not when it comes to search engine optimization mostly comes down to the capability of doing so. If a company/manager has the right resources and knowledge in being able to so, I think they should manage it themselves. However, if they lack the capacity (time, cost, knowledge, etc.) then outsourcing should be considered. But, there is specific risks that should be weighed before outsourcing. Outsourcing arises problems like privacy issues and information being leaked. If outsourcing can be done through an ethical company, I think that in many cases, the advantages can outweigh the disadvantages.

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  34. Jameel Somani

    1. SEO is feeling a need to evolve because i a rapidly changing world, if your not on the boat your left behind and everyone is ahead of you. In terms of businesses search engine optimization allows them to portray visible fresh content that keeps viewers engaged and not go look for the next best thing. This is because you want to be looked at as the next best thing by your consumer audience. When old algorithms are left in place i gives your consumers more incentive to look to somewhere else.
    2. Outsourcing to a SEO firm can be good but maintaining SEO withing the organization can also be beneficial. SEO firm can be a good resource for a organization to use for reasons like having their expertise on the subject can help your company push out the best SEO it can. It also can allow your employees stay on task by allowing the employees at the firm to completely focus on the content to best show to the public therefor maximizing the collaboration between the two parties. Having the SEO being maintained within the firm can also be a good thing because it allows employees to gain knowledge and skills that one has to have when doing Search engine optimization. there can be drawback to maintaining SEO within the organization in that it could be costly to provide workshops and training that employees to gain knowledge and skills in order to do SEO themselves. So that is why i believe that collaborating with a SEO firm would be the best choice.

    Reply
  35. Shairin Bhanji

    1. With all the technological advancements that has happened throughout the years, there is no doubt that SEO (Search Engine Optimization) should evolve as well. Just like fashion trends have changed through the years, consumer preferences and trends in the market has changed as well. In this light, companies should keep up with all the hype to be able to gain competitive advantage. This is the age of the millennials and Gen Z, everything is digitalized and computerized. Companies who take advantage of this have the potential of gaining more market share. Moreover, just like any software that needs updates to run at a better quality the SEO needs to be updated to give better quality results.

    2. Although outsourcing has its downsides when it comes to information being leaked, it can also be a source of advantage for the firm if it is implemented correctly. Companies can have special agreements and contracts in place that can be imposed when such discrepancies occur. In addition, the company can save on costs because where the company would hire one or two employees who would specialize and focus on optimizing the SEO, outsourcing will give the company the advantage of lowering costs and paying another firm with better expertise to do the job at a cheaper price and have more qualitative results due to the vast amount of experience that the outsourced firm has. This situation can always be changed once the organization has enough expertise to handle this kind of operations in-house and is able to do the same job at a lower costs.

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  36. Sareena Kassam

    SEO, like any other software or any technological creation, has to evolve. It doesn’t make sense that something should remain the same for a long period of time. In terms of business and technology it is important for any company to update their website or any platform that they used to connect with their customers or any external users. Evolving SEO not only keeps customers and external users up to date, but it also improves the quality of the whole platform itself. The efficiency in the quality of the information and data on the platform allows for companies to stay on top of their game and also allows customers to be able to filter keywords define exactly what they’re looking for. Furthermore, evolving such technological creations allows other companies to be more aware of what they need to do to also be able to compete with other companies. These are important features that any company should have in order to contribute to the customer relationship management for the benefit in the long term.

    I think there should be a balance between managing my own SEO within my own organization as well as being able to outsource to another firm. Outsourcing can definitely improve the quality of the content as well as it can reduce cost from within the organization. It can also allow for a range of ideas which can be used to input in the content as well as the creation of SEO itself. Managing SEO from within my organization can allow for a personal touch I could also have an input from the leader. Furthermore, it can reduce that potential risk of leaking any internal information to competitors.

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  37. Cal Moskalyk-Walker

    Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is pivotal for increasing thee quantity of traffic for online websites. SEO can also increase the quality of the searches by the user which is currently the issue with some SEO programs. It is important for the algorithms to continuously be updated to keep quantity and quality high. A good example of this would be google. They are efficient in updating their SEO whereas other companies are beginning to fall behind. When users don’t find their intended searches quickly it is easy for them to switch to a new search engine or even give up on their search; which would decrease clicks and overall ad revenue for these search engines. It is very difficult to become proficient in SEO, that is why it is becoming more common to see more companies choosing to outsource their SEO to another firm. It is a great way to get the most out of their SEO. Users are less likely to even use the second page of google; it is something like 80% of the clicks come from the first page. An outsourcing company can be more efficient in getting users to big up the first page and bring new companies to the forefront. It is certainly important to find an outsourcing company that has proven to being able to accommodate a business’ goal. Overall, I would say that search engine optimization has become so competitive in making a business successful that it is important to being successful in this field of a business and should be taken very seriously.

    Reply
  38. Lauren Evans

    1. Well as society and technology evolves, why shouldn’t important things like SEO evolve with it. If one company website who is working hard to appeal to people and go along with trends and follows the market isn’t getting as many hits as one which hasn’t been updated in 5 years, then why would companies try to make their websites good? It’s just another, more modern, form of competition, and companies should have to work hard to get business/attention. If companies are unwilling to follow customer likes, then what does that say about customer satisfaction/service.
    2. Outsourcing can easily lead to goal miscommunication, stress, leaked company information. If someone who works within a company is doing the online communications, management can make sure that they are being monitored and speaking well for the company. It’s easy for companies to try to cut costs by outsourcing this kind of thing, but it has a good chance of leader to higher opportunity costs. Someone who works for the company in house and interacts with others from the company work will work better than someone across the country/world that doesn’t understand the organization culture or have their own morals aligned with the company’s. That doesn’t mean a company shouldn’t expand nationally/internationally, but the marketing should be done in house for the best results.

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  39. Sirhaan Bhanji

    SEO is very important for businesses and it keeps search engine results fair by ensuring that companies who continuously update their websites will be displayed in the top search results. Making the top searches means that the company’s business will be more visible to users, increasing awareness. Users barely go to the next page of the search results and so if a company misses out on the top spots they are more susceptible losing business and customers. Evolving SEO will ensure fair search results, ensure they continue updating their websites and social media sites, and come up with innovative marketing strategies to ensure they reach their target audience.

    There are advantages and disadvantages to both. Internally managing SEO can be beneficial if you have employees with certain knowledge, skills, and abilities to manage SEO, would cut costs to externally hire a firm. Internally managing it will also ensure confidentiality of data to remain within the firm. It can also enable more control and direction by the management. The disadvantages, however, are that it requires a high level of investment, such as creating a department for SEO management, hiring employees, providing them with technology, and office space. Outsourcing on the other hand, allows the business to focus more on their own operations and not worry about managing SEO, it enables the company to hire a firm with skilled workers who can get the job done better than company’s employees. It can also reduce expenses that come with creating a new department. Whilst these may sound like the way to go, outsourcing can mean that the management has less control on decision making, might be at a risk of losing confidential information which can make or break a business. Companies will need to outweigh the costs and benefits and decide which way to go forward with.

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  40. Cassidy Read

    Google has made the fact that companies need to continually revamp and redesign their websites very prominent. This is vital for companies who are hoping to hold their spot in the ranking of websites that are displayed on web searches as Google wants to provide its users with relevant, good information not old, out-of-date sites. This “spot” is so important for companies to retain as users of these websites rely on the order provided to decide which sites are worthy of a click and which are not! This particular article highlights some ways for companies to increase the marketing and overall brand in order to improve the website’s ranking. As an avid user of the internet these tips to improve a websites content are good ideas and things users notice without being consciously aware it. These aspects are so important as these features, although less obvious, have become almost an expectation for users when accessing websites and if they are not met then the website may be deemed irrelevant and then next best one is used instead. When it comes to the question of whether a company should manage their SEO within the organization or outsource it to another firm, I believe that it is better to keep it within the company’s scope. This is because, as I read in the textbook, when companies outsource, they are increasing the chance of leaking company information to others that may harm their business if the wrong people found out. Especially in a larger company setting where there are many capable employees to take on this task that would be able to market and talk about the company in a more realistic and detailed way than by hiring someone outside of the company to do it for them. The company knows what’s best to highlight within the company better than anyone who is hired to do a job that is well-suited to be completed by an internal employee. Another benefit of having an internal employee take on this job would be the fact that they would be more in tune with the company’s vision, plus the historical data available to them could help tailor the index that will be created based on the websites content.

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  41. Erin Collison

    1. The Search Engine Optimization (SEO) increases the quantity and quality of traffic to a website through organic search engine results (Sherman, 2019). The SEO is feeing a need to evolve because it’s visibility is rapidly decreasing. The visibility is dropping significantly because consumers are viewing the same old algorithms. There are other companies consistently making changes to their algorithms, such as Google. This is making the companies that are using the old algorithms, such as TheAtlantic.com, decrease in their visibility.

    2. There are many benefits to gain from outsourcing your SEO to an SEO firm (Mirshah, 2010). Cost savings will improve because source marketing is not just a one time task, so your staff would have to be taken away from the tasks they are trained to perform. As a member of your own industry, you have a certain perspective of how things are done. With outsourcing, that opinion will be removed, and you can have an outside perspective. An outside firm will not understand your business like you do, but they will ask a lot of questions that will generate ideas that you may have never thought of before.

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  42. Jordan Karpuk

    1. SEO is feeling a need to evolve because of their older algorithm compared to competitors. They wanted completely new and fresh content that helped to find more leads from the common mobile and desktop searched that could satisfy Google. Even with this change, the desktop search engine rankings stayed the same compared to the falling of the mobile visibility of media companies. With the ability to evolve, they have the potential to partner with someone and be able to investigate further areas that could provide new insights to this industry.

    2. Outsourcing your SEO to a SEO firm I think would be the better option. When doing this, you are able to generate more opportunities to focus on building out more in-depth and specialized content control for you companies marketing strategies. With google making their SEO algorithm smarter, they have the capability to encourage companies to focus on newer content on their search engine. Although companies are able to support their current marketing strategies, they may not be able to support more in-depth and complex marketing strategies. Being able to maintain your search engine rank includes keeping up with your competitors when it comes to continually improving your marketing strategies to serve the marketplace. The reason for this being, in order for your rank to stay where it is you need to have content that is fresh, new, and repeating content for consumers.

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  43. Tyson Hoskins

    The search engine optimization is feeling a need to evolve because the old system which is outdated relies on the same content that consumers have already seen.
    I believe that most organizations should manage their search engine optimization by outsourcing it to a search optimization firm. Unless the organization is large enough and has the expertise to focus on search engine optimization it is best to leave it to a firm whom specializes in this. This in turn will benefit the business. Large search engine optimization organizations such as Titan Growth, SEC Inc and Big Leap will help improve the visibility of a business’s website online. The problem with most firms managing their SEO themselves is that many don’t have the knowledge and expertise in developing a marketing strategy for their brands which also extend to their social media etc. This form of joint venture would be beneficial for the company in need of a revamped SEO because it would increase the traffic directed to the website and therefore generate more revenue. Not only would it generate more revenue, but it would also improve customer satisfaction. Personally, I have been to sites or applications that are not up to date with their competition and it decreases the time that I spend on them. With that being said, I can certainly understand why an organization may choose to not outsource because they are giving up some control in their company. There are also many security risks involved when outsourcing in terms of theft of data.

    Reply
    1. Rachael

      There is a need for new and differentiated content, also by bringing new insights from experts and bringing engaging content will be an easier way to target specific customers. Also things are changing and what used to be okay 10 years ago might be different now so the idea of keeping up with time and the changes is also the reason why there is a need of SEO evolving.
      I would outsource it to a SEO company since they are more specialized that way, which means they are more knowledgeable and experienced which would lead to better results compared to if I did that in my company. Although there is the need of having it just for internal users just for privacy reasons, so if we had good experts then there wouldn’t be the need to outsource but at the same time with outsourcing there is that safety net of knowing that people know they are doing.

      Reply
  44. Daniel Adams

    1. The SEO is feeling a need to evolve because the old system has basically the same content being reproduced with minor touches and then being promoted at the top of search engines. Not only do consumers not want to see the same content over and over but if 1 particular company dominates the searches, other companies are less likely to invest in ad space if they can’t crack the algorithm.
    2. If a organization wants to get the most out of their search engine optimization then they should outsource it to a SEO firm. As the article stats, google is making their SEO algorithm “smarter”. “Companies need to start focusing on building out more in-depth and specialized content marketing strategies for their brands that also extend to their social media content, links, and apps” This type of marketing strategies might be too complex for most companies to do correctly without outside help from professional organizations. Search Engine Optimization is becoming so important that not doing it correctly and failing to reach the first page on a google search can be what makes or breaks making positive operating income. A new and improved search engine optimization also offers companies a new way to gain a competitive advantage over competitors. Another reason why companies should outsource for their SEO needs. A competitive advantage in a competitive market is not something that comes around often. Companies need to take advantage of any opportunity to do something better than their competitors. Using marketing strategies to increase your SEO is a great way to achieve that.

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  45. Jordan Wright

    Q1: I believe that search engine optimization is needing a change because of the outdated algorithm that is used when assessing what results are found first, When dealing with a business it is important to know exactly what money for advertising is going towards things like having a good search engine to operate the business is important
    Q2:I believe it is important enough to ensure that you are outsourcing to someone that understands exactly what your business needs and what you were looking for and can accommodate to your end goal. When outsourcing any type of business it is important to recognize that who you outsource an operation to is typically an expert in that field or industry. Costs associated with doing the same thing twice because of failure to recognize a better alternative in my opinion out weighs the costs saved by self sourcing.

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