What Do We Call Ourselves ... an SEO, an SEOS, an SEOP, an SEA or ???

[Sharon & Roy]

Hello Forum-Mates,

We just read the following in the I-Search Digest, Issue 361 (http://list.adventive.com/SCRIPTS/WA.EXE?A2=ind0109&L=i-search&D=1&T=0&H=1&O=D&F=&S=&P=354) and thought it would make for some interesting comments here, so what are your thoughts on what J.K. asks ...

What I would like to know is, "What do we call ourselves?"

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Here is J.K.'s post in I-Search

(Posted with Permission from J.K. Bowman)

From: "J.K. Bowman" <jkbowman@spider-food.net>

In regard to using the term search engine optimization versus search engine positioning, marketing, ranking or the like I would like to make a few observations.

First, I have to agree with Danny. The term "search engine optimization" is not a perfect term. When taken in the context of Merriam-Webster (http://m-w.com/) it does not fully describe what those of us in this business do. Nevertheless, I hope the term is here to stay. The English language has never been static, and through time I believe this term has redefined or added an additional meaning to the word "optimization." In fact, it may be time for us to call the good folks up at Merriam-Webster and let them know we are out here!

The popularity of this term is quickly demonstrated at GoTo.

search engine optimization - 37,976
search engine positioning - 22,042
search engine marketing - 5,765

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... These stats provided by Sharon & Roy Montero ...

Predicted Total Searches Per Day / Per Month Figures By Wordtarcker
search engine optimization - 1457 / 43,710
search engine positioning - 908 / 27,240
search engine marketing - 648 / 19,440
search engine placement - 634 / 19,020
---

What I would like to know is, "What do we call ourselves?"

While chatting with collegues I frequently hear them refer to themselves as a SEO. That let's me quickly know what they do, and I use the same term to describe myself. But certainly I am not a "search engine optimization."

We gotta' get a term, Gang.

J.K. Bowman
Editor, Spider-Food.net
http://www.spider-food.net
The Pro-SEO-Toolbox

[Sharon & Roy]

We have always favored the term ...

Search Engine Optimization Specialist or SEOS

... We also like ...

Search Engine Optimization Professional or SEOP


But if we have to choose just one, we prefer SEOS


---

Other suggestions ...

Search Engine Optimization Expert or SEOE

Search Engine Optimization Advisor or SEOA

Search Engine Advisor or SEA


We have noted that some columnists use the term ...

Search Engine Optimizers (US version)
Search Engine Optimisers (UK version)

Occurrences Found Here ...

http://www.google.com/search?q=search+engine+optimisers

http://www.google.com/search?q=search+engine+optimizers

133 pages with the exact phrase ... Search Engine Optimisers (UK version)
333 pages with the term ... Search Engine Optimisers (UK version)

99 pages with the exact phrase ... Search Engine Optimiser (UK version)
1,420 pages with the term ... Search Engine Optimiser (UK version)

1,090 pages with the exact phrase ... Search Engine Optimizers (US version)
5,930 pages with the exact phrase ... Search Engine Optimizers (US version)

1,600 pages with the term ... Search Engine Optimizer (US version)
22,400 pages with the term ... Search Engine Optimizer (US version)

---

353 pages with the exact phrase ... Search Engine Optimization Specialist (US version)
9,390 pages with the term ... Search Engine Optimization Specialist (US version)

117 pages with the exact phrase ... Search Engine Optimization Professional (US version)
44,100 pages with the term ... Search Engine Optimization Professional (US version)

146 pages with the exact phrase ... Search Engine Optimization Expert (US version)
24,500 pages with the term ... Search Engine Optimization Expert (US version)

---

Predicted Total Searches Per Day / Per Month Figures By Wordtarcker

search engine optimiser - 0 / 0
search engine optimizer - 15 / 450

search engine optimisation specialist - 0 / 0
search engine optimization specialist - 0 / 0

search engine optimisation professional - 0 / 0
search engine optimization professional - 0 / 0

search engine optimisation expert - 0 / 0
search engine optimization expert - 0 / 0

---

Note These Current Acronyms:

SEO : http://www.acronymfinder.com/af-query.asp?String=exact&Acronym=seo

SEOS : http://www.acronymfinder.com/af-query.asp?String=exact&Acronym=seos

SEOP : http://www.acronymfinder.com/af-query.asp?String=exact&Acronym=seop

SEOE : http://www.acronymfinder.com/af-query.asp?String=exact&Acronym=seoe

---

[ihelpyou]

LOL. This is the question you have to ask. "What do we do?"

The term "search engine optimization or optimizer" says we optimize the search engines. Is that what we do?

I don't think so. We optimize "web sites". NOT search engines. So, the term we SHOULD be using is:
web site optimization or optimizer

Isn't that what we actually do? I think so. I have no clue as to why we started with the term we did. It is obvious that the term does not tell the truth. We do NOT optimize the search engines, we optimize web sites.

Kind of funny that we could not get the term right to begin with. :)

[Sharon & Roy]

Originally posted by ihelpyou

We optimize "web sites". NOT search engines. So, the term we SHOULD be using is:
web site optimization or optimizer

In light of the definition ...

optimize: to make as perfect, effective, or functional as possible

Shouldn't we also be asking the second part of that question, which is ...

What are we optimizing a Web Site for?

While it is absolutely true that we are optimizing a Web Site and not a search engine, it is also absolutely true that we are optimizing a Web Site for a search engine and not for a directory.

Therefore we do not have the term ....

directory optimization


Only saying that we do ...

Web Site Optimization

Can be equally as confusing as only saying that we do ...

Search Engine Optimization

So probably the more correct terminology would be saying that we do ...

Web Site Optimization for the Search Engines

... as opposed to saying ...

Web Site Optimization for the Directories

---

The point we are making here is that the term search engine needs to be found somewhere in the actual term, as it cannot be taken for granted.

Therefore, whomever first coined the term "search engine optimization" must have went through a similar thought pattern and just shortened the term by using search engine rather than Web Site or Web Page, because when you ask the question ...

Optimizing what for the search engines, the answer becomes quite obvious ...

Web Site/Page

But as we pointed out above, it isn't quite as obvious when you use ask what you are optimizing a Web Site/Page for, since most folks don't know the difference between a directory and a search engine.

Originally posted by ihelpyou

LOL. This is the question you have to ask. "What do we do?"

So when asked what do we DO, we'd reply by saying ...

Web Site Optimization for the Search Engines (WSOSE)

And when asked what we ARE, we'd reply by saying ...

Web Site Optimizer for the Search Engines (WSOSE)

And when asked what should we CALL ourselves, we'd reply by saying ...

Search Engine Optimization Specialists (SEOS)


(LOL, Now, you all easily followed the logic of ALL that right? LOL)

[Advisor]

I discussed my opinion on the difference between the terms search engine optimization and search engine positioning in Rank Write Issue 057 which you can read here:

http://www.rankwrite.com/archives/issue057.htm

It's somewhat similar to what J.K. said, if I remember correctly.

Jill

[JK_Bowman]

Hello Gang,

First time visitor here. Nice digs! :)

Also, thanks to Roy for pointing out this thread to me.

It does strike me as odd that as the one group of professionals on the Internet most focused on building appropriate keyword phrases, we are the group that can not come up with a term to accuratly describe what we do. But I think that is because over time our profession has become more sophisticated.

In the early days I think we were most concerned with simply high search engine ranking. But now I see the field of SEO including optimial placement in directories, building successful pay-per-click campaigns, and managing finances for pay for inclusion or pay per crawl.

That said, to me the core of what we do is not about search engine optimization or even web site optimization. It is all about those techniques one can use for the search engines to deliver quality traffic to a web site in an ethicle and cost effective manner.

In other words, it is about buliding web sites and using the search engines for "search engine referred traffic maximization." But I would never try to pass such a term off on the public. The term "search engine optimization" already has legs of it's own. For the most part I believe people who care about this field (although they may not actively participate in it) understand what this term means. As a result, I do not want to try to re-educate people by feeding them a new term. Our focus should not be on finding a more appropriate term. At this point I believe that would just confuse people. Our focus should be in communicating to people the full range of what it is that we actually do.

As per my occupation title? Well, I would like to see it a bit more refined. I am not a SEO. Most accuratly I am a SEOC, or a SEOS, or something else. But I would be willing to bet that if you ask me one year from now what I am I will still tell you that I am a SEO.

[Blue]

:hi:

[ihelpyou]

Welcome to the forums JK! :hi:

I agree. We could not possibly try to re-educate people on what we are. The terms have floated around for quite a few years now and have developed "branding", if you will.

No one term is very good anyway as there many things involved. Many times we find ourselves as a consultant to help sites "sell" better. All depends on the site....

[Mel]

Welcome to the Forums JK

Have to agree with you that it may be just too late to change the SEO title for one that fits better, since even with all the wrinkles round the shoulders, people have come to understand what the term means. Or in marketing speak it has branding.

To me SEO is shorthand for "optimizing for search engines" and I think that is a fair enough description of what we do. As for a job title "website traffic consultant" or perhaps website traffic engineer.

But I'm not going to take up JKs bet on what we'll be calling ourselves in the year 2002!

[Hope]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I do more than optimize HTML pages to show up in the search engines. My title is "Internet Marketing Analyst." That is what I do. I think that is what most of us do. There are very few companies left that just deal in search engine work. There is so much more to do.

I would really love to see the title change from SEO or Internet Marketing. That is the real job that we do. Under Internet Marketing there can be specialties such as SEO, eMail Marketing, Affliate Marketing and such.

Just my $0.02 worth. Take it for what you think it is worth.

Heidi

[Sharon & Roy]

We just read the following in the I-Search Digest, Issue 362 (http://list.adventive.com/SCRIPTS/WA.EXE?A2=ind0109&L=i-search&D=1&H=1&O=D&T=0&P=453)

Also below you'll find the List's Moderator, Detlev's comments in asking us to vote for the term we prefer.

If you are so inclined, why not include your vote, thank you!

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Here is Nev's post in I-Search

(Posted with Permission from Nev Monks)

// -- CONTINUING DISCUSSION -- //

==> TOPIC: VOTE4TERM

From: "Nev Monks" < nev@froggy.com.au >

Hi all - this is a subject close to my heart since I operate a small Internet consultancy in Brisbane Australia and have found that most people here do not understand the term "Search Engine Optimisation".

It is also a constraining term when you consider that like your traditional marketing mix, there are other elements eg content, structure to name a few and it is how you "bake the cake mix" that makes the difference.

When asked what I do, I describe myself as an Internet Strategist and reading the posts here I believe that is the apt term. It describes the dynamic nature of what we do and goes beyond SE's into content, fulfillment, design, architecture, stickiness and what I call "virometrics". The approach also marries traditional and new world business practice - something a lot of businesses still have a problem coming to terms with.

What do the Harvard/Boston/Preston boffins think?

Metrically speaking.

Nev Monks
Director
Net@ffect - making websites work



Here is Detlev's Moderator Comment

From: Detlev

[ Moderator Comment: Hello everyone, I would like to conduct a survey with you on this terminology and nomenclature thing.

Your vote counts!

Please send a message to search@adventive.com with a subject line of: Vote4Term

Here is a link: search@adventive.com?subject=Vote4Term and check that the Vote4Term subject line appears to ensure that you get counted.

In the message body, please indicate your top choice for what you want the industry term to be, wether SEO or whatever you think. Get imaginative if you want but please only indicate one term.

Many thanks, and I look forward to seeing the results. I will publish the full list of terms and their total counts in a future issue.

Your Striving Moderator, -detlev ]

Comment? search@adventive.com?subject=Vote4Term

[ihelpyou]

I do not think we need to be making any changes to the term. Users are confused enough and SEO is what we are beginning to be known as. Any change would confuse the issue even more.

[Advisor]

I already sent my vote in to Detlev a few days ago. Definitely "Search Engine Optimization" of course.

Jill