I have been reading over forums, answer boards, and some networks where people are debating which is better between search engine marketing and content. First I thought those questions are asked just for arguing sakes but as more and more of similar questions arouse, now they bother me.

The side supporting search engine marketing claims that you can get the sites and all pages ranked well and found well if you do solely of link building. And predictably, the side supporting content claims content is the king and the way to go because great quality contents will naturally make people link to your sites/pages. All statements provided from each perspective are misleading.

What both sides is missing is the understanding that in SEO, both search marketing and content are equally important and the methods must be used together to see a success. You can’t just say one is required more than the other. Think about it. As a graphic designer, which do you need to have? Computer or Graphic Software? As a writer, do you need a computer or word software? Do you need your arms or legs? In all sceneries, you need both to accomplish. Keep in mind that in Search Engine Optimization, there are many ways to make your site exposed and there is no the best and the right way in SEO. For a shorter period of time, true search marketing is good because you get links and rank higher, and content is necessary because your content will be linked and referred to naturally. For for a long run, when the search engines update rankings, you will be in deep trouble and your site ranking and all the “half efforts” you have put in will be gone down the sewer because no contents mean no search engine crawling, no search engine crawling can also leads to previously built links taken out. However if you have had used both methods concurrently and both executed correctly you will maintain your site status regardless as long as you have both content and do search engine marketing.

“Thanks, but I still think [SEM]/[Content] is better!”. Well, if you’re that stubborn there is nothing I can say or force you to do; you will learn the hard way then. Think about this. Because you have quality contents, as said before, your site will be a reference to others and back links will be built naturally and you will be rewarded by search engines. However you can’t state concretely that that will happen just like that in a few days because to make that happen, you have to put effort into creating contents. Now if you do search engine marketing, true your site will get many back links instantly but in search engines’ “eyes”, such speed in acquiring links is just by the method of manipulation (link farming). Search engines may check your site for content and if not contents are found, your search marketing method will be marked as automated linking and they will penalize your site.

If you create quality contents and no one knows about it or if you have many back links/links but no good contents, you’re just walking in circle the pool of absence of growth and walking at the border where at any given time you will fail with your site/project.

So what are the true right ways for SEO? Like I said, there is no right way and you have to utilize all the methods together for a better yield or to reach the “threshold” to see growth and success in your site. For true success, a combination of link building, social networking, social marketing, production of press releases, public relations, viral and individual marketing, word of mouth referring, creating quality attention capturing contents, link exchanges (and all other methods you have heard of) is necessary.

By: Kaung | ChitChat247.com | KMKBlog.com

Tagged in: Content | Search Engine Marketing | Search Engine Optimization | SEM | SEO