I’m a Search Geek!

I just got my letter regarding the SMX Biggest Search Geek Contest.

Dear Paul,

Thank you for participating in the SMX Biggest Search Geek Contest, sponsored by Marin Software. We are pleased to inform you that out of nearly 1700 entries, you scored in the top 10% – a truly great achievement!  You can view where you scored in relation to others at http://www.marinsoftware.com/searchgeek.

To recognize the contest?s top achievers, we have created the attached badge, with code that you can place on your website.

To read more about our Biggest Search Geek Winner, Keri Morgret from San Mateo, CA, please visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/02/prweb2007494.htm.

Thanks again for participating and we hope you join us again next year!

Natalie Clifford Cann
Director of Marketing Communications

At the time, I thought my score was pathetic, but I guess everyone’s was.  I do know I got the important questions right …the ones that actually have to do with search engine marketing.  Where I performed poorly involved questions like “Order the following search engines by when they launched.”  Really?  Who cares.

Thinking about it this morning, what I’d like to see is a true test of your SEO/PPC skills.  For example:

1. You are building a website that houses automobile inventory in your market.  You have free reign to build the site anyway you’d like.  Considering how you should build the entire site for optimal SEO impact, what text would be best to use as the <title> tag on the home page?

- Cars for Sale – New Cars, Used Cars & Car Dealers with inventories including Acura, Honda, Toyota, Ford, Chevy and more.
- Cars for Sale in [CITY], [ST] – Browse the Largest Selection of New and Used Cars in [CITY], [STATE]
- Cars for Sale in [CITY], [ST] – Hondas in [CITY], [ST], Fords in [CITY], [ST], Toyotas in [CITY], [ST], Fords in [CITY], [ST], Chevys in [CITY], [ST] and more.

2. Using the same example, how deep should you build your content taxonomy for the optimal SEO impact?

- Cars
- Cars » Hondas
- Cars » Hondas » Accords
- Cars » Hondas » Accords » 2008

To me, these are the types of real world questions that prove your value.  Unfortunately, I’m not sure who could pull off a quiz like this?  Certainly not an agency.  Maybe Rand Fishkin, using the expertise of those who contributed to his Top SEO Factors.