Wiep, there has to be a metric behind the 8-hour link to show that it’s worthwhile. Most people chasing links don’t measure the value they are exchanging for their links. That’s really what I hope people will think about. It’s a business-oriented approach to link building: get more bang for your buck (your buck being the time you invest).

If you just look at the link itself, this may be so, but this also depends on the quality of the link. But a link is never just a link. It’s a brand exposure mechanism, it’s a way to attract traffic, it’s a way to attract more links, etc. A link that cost you over 8 hours to get may be a good catch, while pursuing that 5 minute link may have been a waste of time.

If someone like me can do it without links, anyone can do it without links. After all, I don’t have an army of online buddies ready to point their weekly top 10 lists at my blog posts. That makes the links I do get all the more valuable to me.

What you are forgetting is that your vast knowledge of the internet and how it has evolved, how the tools and techniques to “optimize your web site” have evolved… you have a complete picture of where SEO started and where it is now. If you don’t have that, wrapping your head around SEO is a tough thing.
Take it easy!! These people are listening to anyone with a potential answer to this complex problem. The links wont hurt. Surely you must agree that having links point back to your site are effective, right? I mean, I know that I can contribute an increase in traffic by building quality links. It might not be the entire answer but I am surely not a moron for doing so!

This stuff really pisses you off… I can tell!

incrediblehelp, much though it might surprise people, I would reduce search’s dependence upon commercial content for primary search results. People are looking mostly for information and if the salesy sites were cordoned off from the first query results I think people would learn to dig deeper.

Have to run. Will try to follow up again later.

ORM is what we choose to make of it.

However, you can make something complicated by twisting words. I think online reputation management includes search results, mentions / comments in social applications and blogs, bookmarks and so on, to get an overview of the current discussions on the web, surrounding you, your brand or organization. Which information you use as a basis for stats depends on what is important to you and what your objectives are.

Managing your online reputation means actively getting involved in the social web.

I have a friend who’s been in business for 5 years by himself - so on that front we can say he isnt stupid.

I asked him which engine he uses to search the net - here it is - word for word.

Me
“Baz - if youre looking something up on the net - where do you go to find it?”

Baz
“Google - end of story - not bothered in owt else - google it - I can always get stuff I want there”.

Me
“Google is shit at ranking stuff though”……….. interupted rudely

Baz
“Not fucking bothered - google it - thats all I need - what the fuck else do I need??”

MM - what I am saying here is how people think in real life - this is a real life conversation.

Wibbler.