SEO Blog

Barry Schwartz over at the SERoundTable points out a lively debate over at the Search Engine Watch forums regarding the nature of the SEO business. The debate was initiated in response to a DMNews article, “Troubled Times for SEO Firms” written by David Pasternack, President of SEM services firm, Did-it.com.

In the article, Pasternack suggests SEOs see themselves as Jedi-Knights offering a one-time, front loaded service. Citing a recent MarketingSherpa study that says revenues in the SEO sector have virtually flat-lined in comparison to previous years, Pasternack suggests that the decline in SEO spending shows that mainstream marketers have learned SEO is an easy game. In other words, Pasternack is suggesting, in few uncertain terms, that SEO shops are losing business because mainstream businesses have learned they don’t really need them.

Did-it’s main focus is found primarily in the pay-per-click market. The company’s management is universally respected in the SEO industry and includes names such as Kevin Lee, John Merryman and Bill Wise. David, Kevin, John and Bill have all spoken at industry conferences and have each been published as expert authors in the search marketing media. Perhaps that level of respect explains the surprise and sharp tone found in many of the responses.