Occasionally you come across a story on your Web browser that sounds so absurd, you have to check the date to make sure it’s not an April Fool’s Day gag you didn’t see until now. That’s the case with a new story from the lands of Google.
SEO marketing companies around the world did a double take this week when news hit the Web that the almighty Google is searching for SEO consultants to interview for a new position that will help drive “organic traffic” to Google products. The “Program Manager, Search Engine Optimization” would help Google craft search engine optimization strategies of their own. That’s right, Google is investing in search engine optimization.
If you’re wondering why Google would need SEO services at all, then you’re not alone. Most SEO marketing companies expect the ad to get pulled relatively quickly as Google backpedals on the bizarre job posting.
SEO marketing companies help businesses of all sizes rank better on Google, and SEO marketing companies must wage a constant battle against Google’s algorithm and constant updates. In fact, SEO marketing companies have to strike a delicate balance, because Google doesn’t want anyone to be able to affect their precious organic rankings. No, they want you to pay them to advertise next to those organic rankings, obviously.
So what is Google looking for in their new in-house SEO branding strategy manager? According to Google:
“You will take part in website development and optimization, help shape blog and social strategy, improve website code hygiene and define web architecture for international websites…Keep pace with SEO, search engine and internet marketing industry trends and developments and report changes as needed.”
Plus, applicants need four years experience developing websites, two years of experience with SEO marketing companies, and various coding knowledge.
SEO marketing companies have been saying for years that large and small business SEO services are absolutely essential in the 21st century, no matter how hard Google tries to convince you to pay for ads instead. The truth is, 70 – 80% of Web users ignore those Pay-Per-Click ads and only click organic search results. Plus, 58% of consumers research services and products online before making a purchasing decision, according to Pew Internet. And since Google dominates the search engine world with (at least) 65 – 70% market share, the benefits of SEO are legion.
In fact, despite warning people against SEO for years, the benefits of SEO are apparently so important that even the all-powerful, all-knowing Google wants to unlock the secrets of SEO marketing companies too.