sel logo
Search Engine Land » SEO » Bitter, cynical Verge article blames SEOs for ruining the internet
SearchBot requires a free Search Engine Land account to use, and gives you access to all SearchBot personas, an image generator, and much more!
If you already have a Search Engine Land account, log in now. Otherwise, register here!
Amanda Chicago Lewis thinks SEO pirates have ruined Google Search and the internet. And she’s going to force that negative narrative on us. No matter what.
Yes, SEOs went beyond the world wide web – where you’ve optimized websites and content for nearly 30 years – and wrecked the whole internet. How? That’s still not quite clear. (Lewis hasn’t yet figured out that the world wide web is basically just an application that runs on the internet. But that’s an issue for another day.)
This is just one of many bold assertions in a hate-spewing 8,000-word extravaganza published on the Verge that tries to tie SEO to bad Google Search results, excess behavior (from lavish dinners to late-night drug parties) and even human trafficking.
The key points. It all starts with an “alligator party” (because, Florida) that actually seems to be more in the affiliate marketing world, not the SEO world. And we’re off:
Smearing people. We’re all just amoral, megalomaniacal, rule-breaking hustlers and nihilists, who manipulate search algorithms for profit. And many of us are pirates. We’re also supposedly flooding Google with AI-written drivel that Google can’t keep up with.
Does anybody look good? From my reading, the only three people who came out fairly unscathed would be our own unbelievably fast-talking Barry Schwartz (who writes for this very “trade rag” as Lewis put it), who was quoted saying:
Matt Cutts, who has always been a voice of sanity, nuance and empathy, and was quoted as saying:
Lily Ray is portrayed as the “most reasonable person” of the article, despite some perhaps envious jabs about her jet-setting lifestyle and calling herself a “thought leader.” She does provide her usual voice of sanity when it comes to the nuance of discussing tactics that go against Google guidelines. She’s quoted as saying:
The problem. So much of this article is all such a dated, fringey view of SEO – the Wild West porn, pills and gambling days. Much of the focus here is on days gone by (we’re even digging up Cutts, who has been out of Google for nearly a decade). Some big personalities brag and reminisce about the past.
It’s not really about SEO in 2023. And it ignores all the good work most SEOs do to make Search and the user experience better.
SEO is no longer a “cottage industry” – many companies employ entire teams dedicated to SEO. SEO is discussed on earnings calls. SEO is a legit part of most organizations – from small businesses to the biggest brands and corporations on the planet.
And yes, this includes The Verge! It has an SEO team, as Sullivan pointed out in his rebuttal.
Here’s yer classic clickbait, matey. The people who ruined the internet.
And some more responses:
Related stories
New on Search Engine Land
About the author
Related topics
Get the daily newsletter search marketers rely on.
See terms.
Learn actionable search marketing tactics that can help you drive more traffic, leads, and revenue.
Online Feb. 28-29: SMX Master Classes
Online June 11-12: SMX Advanced
Online Nov. 13-14: SMX Next
Discover time-saving technologies and actionable tactics that can help you overcome crucial marketing challenges.
April 15-17, 2020: San Jose
What Is SEO – Search Engine Optimization?
SEM career playbook: Overview of a growing industry
Web hosting for SEO: Why it’s important
Leverage AI-driven SEO to Increase Traffic, Revenue and Online Reputation
AI-Forward Marketing: Your Roadmap to Revenue Growth in 2024
Power Up Your Marketing Programs with Google Analytics 4 and Salesforce Marketing Cloud
Identity Resolution Platforms: A Marketer’s Guide
Email Marketing Platforms: A Marketer’s Guide
Customer Data Platforms: A Marketer’s Guide
9 SEO A/B test case studies to boost your travel site’s SEO performance
Meet your new AI-powered marketing assistant!
Get the must-read newsletter for search marketers.
Topics
Our events
About
Follow us
© 2024 Third Door Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Third Door Media, Inc. is a publisher and marketing solutions provider incorporated in Delaware, USA, with an address 88 Schoolhouse Road, PO Box 3103, Edgartown, MA 02539. Third Door Media operates business-to-business media properties and produces events. It is the publisher of Search Engine Land the leading Search Engine Optimization digital publication.

source