‘Noooo’ I can hear everyone crying in the distance. But don’t worry, this isn’t just another rambler about the future of the industry. Check out the Bloom Media blog for an in depth look at agency structure, and how SEO fits in to your proposition.
"OMG! SEO agencies have no future? But I just started!"
I dint do nuffink guv'nor.
I found an extremely worrying article today from the New York Times regarding ‘redesigning’ the internet.
The content of the article revolves around the flaws (in their eyes) of the existing Internet; security and anonymity.
While I’m sure there are many technical faults with the Internet itself, it was founded on altruism and a libertarian ethos which has directly contributed to its growth and popularity. This is what makes the Internet one of the most dynamic, and progressive things mankind collaboratively created for many years.
Some people feel differently however, and when comments like this appear-
“What a new Internet might look like is still widely debated, but one alternative would, in effect, create a “gated community” where users would give up their anonymity and certain freedoms in return for safety.”
-we should all be worried.
I’m sorry to say it but a large amount of this noise is emanating from the US, the base of many corporations who lose money on the Internet, and feel they are being robbed by its users. They still struggle to walk the line between remembering internet users are their customers, and treating them like career criminals (see the Pirate Bay trial which commenced today for more).
There is a fierce debate raging over the potential introduction of tiered services (vs neutrality – more from Google here) which would allows ISPs to restrict access to free content, and force users to pay for it. A move like this will only increase the level of piracy, as it completely contradicts the community spirit of the online community.
In the UK people are very reluctant to sacrifice their civil liberties for so called ’safety’ measures. Such a move is seen as a slippery slope toward an Orwellian future where content is controlled and we are constantly presumed guilty until proven innocent.
Tracking internet criminals is a problem, but it is not going to be resolved by asking for proof of ID before signing on, or digital monitoring. Identity theft will still be rife, and could easily be exploited to mask your true identity online, just as it is in real life now. In my opinion proposals of this nature are a knee jerk reaction from companies who see control of their marketplace slipping from their grasp, and who don’t like it. Rather than attempting to move with the times however and compete with online businesses fairly, they are seeking to regain control by restricting not only people’s freedom, but also the internet as a whole.
My glorious employers, digital agency Bloom Media have decided to have a moustache off this Christmas – yay!
That means all the male Bloomers will be growing that face hair like crazy from today, up to the 19th of December, when it will be lovingly sculpted into a moustache.
As it’s the season of giving this is a sponsored event, so please head over to Just Giving and donate - all proceeds are going to St Gemma’s Hospice (Charity Registration No 1015941 ) – so instead of buying another packet of mince pies put that cash to good use!
As I still can’t grow a real man’s beard this should be interesting, keep your eye out towards Christmas for moustache photos here or on the Bloom Blog.
Once again we have a case of heavyhanded uncalled for censorship, as the IWF cesors an album cover on Wikipedia, claiming it could be considered an indecent image.
The album cover in question is the ‘Virgin Killer’ by Scorpions:
In bad taste, maybe - but is it indecent?
While it’s certainly not the most beautiful cover I’ve ever seen, and is in fairly bad taste, does this cover warrant censorship?
What irks me about the action the IWF is that it is only a partial, tiny censorship – this album is available in shops selling cds and records across the world – I very much doubt the IWF will go to every HMV and put a little black sticker over every one. Aside from the fact that this album was released in 1976. That’s 32 years of uncontroversial existence and syndication – until now.
Wikipedia and potentially Amazon may have to permanently remove this image from their sites, which raises the ugly question – should we be told what we can and can’t see online? The IWF would do well to remember that the things which are unacceptable in society are also unacceptable on the internet – one old album cover is not going to flood the internet with child pornography.
The danger of censoring Wikipedia is that it is a macrocosmic version of what could happen to the whole internet – Wikipedia is a community resource, created and maintained by the community. If the community felt this image was unacceptable it would have been removed. What the IWF has done is break that model, and overrule the community.
This action is in danger of undermining theIWF as an objective body of appeal, as people will now feel they are there as the ‘internet police’ rather than a watchdog.
If they are allowed to do it here, where will it end?
So while you’re at it IWF I’ve got two more for you:
Here’s what the BBC have to say, and The Guardian.
P.S. Just had another thought, if the far reaching arm of the censors stretches out to me (i.e. if they want to force their opinion on everyone instead of crediting them with the mental maturity to decide themselves) I will let you know – equally if people feel the image is offensive then I will remove it in true democratic spirit.
There is a constant discussion bubbling under the surface about whether we need an ‘SEO Industry’ as it exists now; a retrospective service initially to fix your site/bring it up to date, then an ongoing service to maintain your presence in the fickle spotlight of Google.
Oh yeah and those other two.
Now I know my MD has his own opinion on this, as does anyone else with a keyboard and one finger or more, however I want to highlight one of the main reasons we (by which I mean SEOs) still have a job – lazy web designers.
Some don’t know any better, some let standards slip from time to time and some are just plain lazy. God bless ‘em, every meta tag they miss out, every table they build, every pretentious, ego stroking page design they spew out keeps the SEO industry growing.
All we need to do according to Google is build good quality, relevant websites for people, not search engines. That means your users, not you. There are innumerable posts and personalities expounding the benefits of UCD (that’s User Centred Design to you and me) and Google Analytics makes tracking your site visitor’s behaviour easier than ever.
While the progressive web design agencies are building in SEO as part of the design process, and as such giving their clients a kick start into the rankings before their site is live, I was surprised to find an alarming number of agencies still practicing the bad old ways. Now whether these people are cowboys, or the gift horse we know as the lazy designer I don’t know, but the point is with so much information around on how to do it right, how is it that so many people still manage to do it wrong?
That’s right my thus far none existent readership, flu has struck and my Clicktale web analytics review will have to wait until I’ve recovered and returned to work.
In the meantime, here are my top 5 ways to make yourself feel better when the dreaded influenza strikes!
(1) Chicken Soup
The universal cure for all illnesses (except anything where you can’t eat or drink obviously) chickens have the magical power to give you a warm fuzzy feeling inside, but only once they’ve been blended into mush.
(2) A Duvet
The beautiful combination of a giant duck feather duvet and your sofa is guaranteed to relieve symptoms of flu (albeit briefly) while you watch crappy daytime tv and wait for someone to come look after you.
(3) Honey & Lemon
A natural bit of relief from the sore throat and bunged up nose, chop half a lemon and add a generous amount of honey to a cup of hot water, and enjoy. This will sooth your throat and clear you airways.
(4) A Hot Toddy
If you want something more potent, a hot toddy could be the way. Get your favourite Scotch whiskey, heat, add a slice of lemon and a couple of cloves and you’ll feel right as rain (for about half an hour. It’s worth noting that too many hot toddies will exacerbate your flu symtoms later on…
(5) Sauna
That’s right, if you can find one that will let you in then you can sit in your pants and sweat out that evil flu. Just make sure you don’t pass out and shrivel up like a giant ill prune though.
