. The piece mentioned about
the death of link based algorithms through localized search, and how SEO's and
online marketers should have already started planning the implementation of such
new concepts. I personally doubt many have even considered this yet, and they
really should be IMHO. Why?
Well, all three major engines have hit on localized search, and implemented to some point, though not as proficient as they would like just yet. The piece goes on and talks about how the search engines will eventually change their algorithm to discontinue link bias, and focus purely on localization. This is most likely true, but the problem stems a little further than that, as link popularity has been the foundatation search engines have been built on from when they began. Sure, it wasn't a primary focus, as was meta information and so forth, but it didn't take long to shift the link algorithms up a notch to help deter the manipulation of their results.
What is certain, is that at some point, you are no longer going to gain a top position globally, or even nationally for any keyword or term. Everything will eventually be localized and geographic. What happens to those that sell nationally or globally? I would presume a simple click would take you to a national or global algorithmic based search, as we do now. Yes, it will still be alive, but nothing like what we have now. The choices are mainly global or national at present. If most of the SE traffic relocates to localized, then national and global will be left quite short, and not really worth chasing hard, nor spending the same kind of investment to maintain a high search engine rankings. The real competition will become completely localized, as that's where a good 60% of online business truely lay.
An SEO Copywriter, link expert, SEO will all become absolete, as what will matter the most, is trustrank, how long has your site been online, more importantly, how long are visitors remaining on your site, how much are they browsing your site, etc etc etc. If Google tap into their Orkut connection at that point, and base localization in conjunction with social networking recommendations, well, life will really become interesting for high rankings. You imagine if you need so many "social references" before your site benchmarks "x" position? No doubt it can still be manipulated, but the more factors to obtain the rankings, make it a lot harder to move onward.
General marketing is really taking over now (I think I've said that more than my fair share lately!), in that the basic SEO who obtained some top spots, decided to go into business online, will become an invisible entity. Sites are going to need, actual copywriting to swing users (not SEO copywriting), they will need to be very user focused and centric, to provide the relevant information and convert the sale. Who has most links, who has authority links, who has current top positions, all will be disregarded.
Life will get interesting over the next couple of years. What is your thoughts?
