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Reply to “Where’s that desphinn button when you need it?!”
By Kimberly Bock | January 21, 2008
As you know, I frequent online environments that are packed with a multitude of various SEO/M, Social Media/Networking information.This morning I woke up, made some coffee, sat down for another day of investigation and Forum scouting and ‘low and behold, there was a new post by Ruud Hein over at “Search Engine People” entitled “How Search Really Works: Keyword Links“. (It’s a follow-up to “How Search Really Works: Meta Keywords” that I suggested on Saturday)
Ruud gives a brief overview of the weight that links provide in your site’s search campaign. It’s designed for the SEO Newbie to partake of the ‘milk’ before having to chew the ‘meat’ of SEO…A helpful prelude for a multitude of people (Newbies and professionals alike)
I saw that it had been Sphunn (voted in-favor-of in the Sphinn Internet News, Discussion and Marketing community) I love to see education in the basics being promoted because there’s such a growing demand for it.
But this morning I am having some trouble digesting a comment that someone at Sphinn made as a result of Ruud’s post hitting the front page there..
This person commented:
“Where’s that desphinn button when you need it?!
This is the sort of remedial stuff that should go without saying - to make it a front page story kinda makes Sphinn look daft: ‘A SEO community, by people who don’t know SEO’?”
???
(view full commenting area, with other replies to this comment, here)
Firstly (in case you need clarification..because maybe I do)
What are the ‘Keywords‘ mentioned in his comments that hold the most weight and relevancy here? (pun, of course)
Dictionary.com’s definition of ‘Remedial‘ is:
1. affording remedy; tending to remedy something.
2. intended to correct or improve one’s skill in a specified field
definition of ‘Daft‘ is:
1. senseless, stupid, or foolish.
2. insane; crazy.
3. Scot. merry; playful; frolicsome. ???
I think I may be hovering in a bizarre zone of misunderstanding of this comment?
Have I missed the newest edition to Psychology Today that offered up statistical findings about educators that attempt to remedy or improve ones skills in a particular field as being crazy? Stupid? or Senseless?
OMG! I need to run to my therapist and get a crazy pill and fast cause I got it baaaad! What if it’s catching?? It could become an epidemic of mass proportional hysteria! I mean, if that were to actually happen…wouldn’t that totally discredit and invalidate Sphinn’s professional following? Somebody better tell Danny Sullivan cause this looks as if it could very well be the end of Sphinn as we know it! teaching, learning, passing it on…Holy moly! This is absolutely horrible! Those d*mn newcomers.
What’s Sphinn?
“Sphinn is a social site for search and interactive marketers. It’s designed to allow you to share and discover news stories, read and take part in discussions, discover events of interest and network with others.” (as quoted in “About Us Wiki” here)
I’d like to say that I am not trying to create a wave with this post. what I AM trying to do is broaden our perspective on what environments such as “Sphinn” and “Search Engine People” have accomplished by allowing submission of posts about SEO basics..
Let’s analyze what types of people are interested or may become interested in SEO as time goes on and as it becomes more of a household name.
Who wants to become visible to the search engines anyway?
Hmmm, let’s see…Mothers, brothers, sisters, uncles, caregivers, hockey lovers, teenagers, jewel thieves (giggle), potty trainers, restaurant owners, digital camera dealers…
How bout’ an 0-9/A-Z approach:
100% Human Hair
Agricultural
Baby Supply Companies
Cell phone Companies
Dog food Suppliers
Educational institutions
Freemasons
Garage door providers
Halvah imports
Internet Marketers
Japanese frozen foods
Kimberly Bock
Licensing bureaus
Manatee activists
National Nano Technology
Optometrists
Pinto Horse Association
Quebec Writers federation
Russian Embassy
Sicilian mafia (ok..that was a stretch)
Tourist and Travel guides
Walkie talky sales
Xerox
Yard and Garden
Ziplock
*To get an even clearer view of who needs visibility in the search engines that may not have knowledge of the basics of SEO, check out these listings of website owners and businesses.
But, why would a professional such as Ruud and “Search Engine People” talk such Newbie talk when they could be focussed on more meaty jargon and marketing?
This is my guess:
- They are professionals that know there’s an uprising of demand for it.
- They are professionals at Search Engine People that are comfortable enough in their abilities to know that teaching someone the basics doesn’t sacrifice their skills or job security
- They honestly enjoy being providers of growth for all, not just greedy marketers trying to keep the public eye from viewing the ‘inside’ of search.
- They are qualified teachers by education and experience
- They believe in teamwork and our accepting of diversity
- And, oh yea.. they are “Search Engine People” which means they CAN.
Why does Sphinn allow such posts to go Hot and hit their front page?
Here’s what I think:
- Same as above
- Members of Sphinn have full control over which topics they feel is beneficial (Sphinn is not a dictatorial setting)
- Because allowing these sorts of submissions have the potential to broaden Sphinn’s traffic diversity and numbers
- SEO basics are just as relevant as the meatier SEO meals and Sphinn allows news in all forms (except spam)
Should there be a “Desphinn” button to be used whenever you feel there’s information that doesn’t merit your attention?
How many Desphinns are needed before the post goes in hiding? 3? 4?
If 3 or 4 people feel they expertise is too valuable to be squandered on us little people, then what about the 20 or so that disagree with you? Should they starve for education because you have been subject to plenty?
If it isn’t Sphinnworthy in your opinion…
Just don’t Sphinn it.
If you’re a newbie and feel threatened by this whole ‘Desphinn’ thing just remember:
“And above all things, never think that you’re not good enough yourself. A man should never think that. My belief is that in life people will take you at your own reckoning.
Isaac Asimov”
If you disagree/agree with allowing SEO Basics to hit the front page in Sphinn or are a promoter/discourager of the ‘Desphinn‘ option, I’d like to hear your side of it and I’m sure others would like to know as well.
I’m looking forward to your comments and opinions.
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Topics: Social Media |
January 21st, 2008 at 5:10 pm
The deSphinn button is not for professionals that are offended by newbie advice. It’s for the 999th reiteration of “Top 13 ways to piss of your readers with numbered lists counting backwards” or so. You know what I mean.
January 21st, 2008 at 10:23 pm
I still think that until the new feature has settled into its stride and any creases are ironed out, the motivations of a minority using the desphinn button may not entirely be as it was meant for. But then, that’s probably just me being my old, paranoid self… I must find a dark room to shut myself away in until the gathering storm’s passed over.
January 21st, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Sebastian: I feel that ‘Desphinn’ is unfriendly and limits potential of a wide variety of posts unless used as you suggest..
Nick: I am skeert of the same…
I guess I’m old and paranoid too.
January 22nd, 2008 at 6:12 am
By adding the De-Sphinn Button, I feel like we would be succumbing to the need to thwart each others posts based on the whoe “negative attention is better that no attention at all”. I am certain that the last thing we need is another user like AllenMVP at Mixx whose sole purpose is to vote down everything, “just because they can”.
So, more than being nervous, I think they could find more creative ways for allowing a wider audience to participate without a “public digital flogging” (I am stripping away your vote) button “if you will”.
Just moderate of have a post with no clicks in 48 hours quarantined.
January 22nd, 2008 at 7:17 am
I thought I found another sphinn smack down in the making. You tuned it down to much. Don’t be scared of the old SEO’s. They function just like a newbie. Besides a newbie is just an old SEO in the making. Maybe the old SEO’s are “Skeered” that a new person might step up and be better than them. In fact I can say that it is the dream of all newbies. But from the this newbies standpoint I hope I never become pompous enough to put down reiterating old information for others coming in late. Plus it is the power of the people to vote and just because my article is bad in someone’s eyes doesn’t mean it isn’t in another ones. I bet there are more newbies poking around than there are old SEOs. One day we should form our own back-slapping club.
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:36 pm
This post seems like a bit of an overreaction to one comment. A comment which didn’t pull your post of the home page or “Desphinn” it. Just one guy’s opinion.
I don’t really think it’s hard to see it from both viewpoints. Clearly, Sphinn is intended to cater to all skill levels, and basic info is appropriate.
The post you wrote, while very succinct and effective, was really a statement of just 1 general fact that can be found on thousands upon thousands of other websites. It’s an entirely appropriate post for Sphinn, but, IMHO, not really exceptional enough to make the home page.
I think the Sphinn home page should be reserved for new ideas or news…things that have not been written/blogged about ad nauseum. I will be using the Desphinn button once it’s implemented.
January 23rd, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Chris: My fear of the “desphinn” option is partly due to that reason..
If others who are more knowledgeable feel that someting isn’t worth their time..there goes the option that Newbies have to partake of it.
Dark: It is certainly NOT difficult to see ‘both’ sides..It’s the 3rd side I am concerned about..
Allowing someone to decide what information is Sphinn-worthy ultimately revokes another’s learning material…
You know..the whole, “One mans garbage is another mans treasure” type of thing…
I don’t have the right to tell you to eat peas because they are better than carrots do I?
Btw..
“The post you wrote, while very succinct and effective, was really a statement of just 1 general fact that can be found on thousands upon thousands of other websites. It’s an entirely appropriate post for Sphinn, but, IMHO, not really exceptional enough to make the home page.”
That post wasn’t mine..(although I wish it was)
It was written by a man with multiple years of experience and he’s one of the best..