Cutts takes control at Smackdown
SMX Seattle Me and Dave Dugdale
Dave Dugdale helps people find homes for rent at his very popular website, RentVine. So naturally, I would want to hear about his rental SEO efforts and he would want to hear about my efforts to rent technology to businesses with my website, Rentacomputer.com.
Dave also goes by the name, “Solar Dave” making him one of my ‘greenest’ friends.
Three years ago, Danny Sullivan started SMX and this was the third year we both attended SMX Advanced in Seattle. Who want’s to miss anything Danny has to say about Advanced SEO? Not me.
The Yin and Yang at 2008 ADVANCED SMX
The redeye seems appropriate for this photo of Stephen Spencer and Danny Sullivan. It was taken at the end of the SMX Advanced 2008 in Seattle the place where in the know SEO’s go. It appears that Stephen is shooting laser beams at Danny for the final assault at the conference.
SMX in Seattle did have a bit of Yin and Yang to it. Yin was the anti-Moralist SEO, Jay Young of Link Fish Media, Inc. Yang was Google’s SPAM Buster, Matt Cutts.
Moderator of the Yins and Yangs was mild mannered, Danny Sullivan of Search Engine Land.
Danny’s job is to keep everyone playing nice. A boundary that was breached at 2 of the SEO sessions, “Blow Your Mind Link Building Techniques” and “Give it UP!”
Around 11 o’clock on Tuesday, June 3, 2008, the assault on white hat SEO’s was opened up by Jay Young with this salvo -‘were not in this for the morals, were in it for the Marketing!’ Mr. Young offered several tips that Matt Cutts would consider over the line, some even ‘way over the line’ such as certain types of SPAM.
Matt Cuts explains his position on immediately removing SPAM from the News in this SMX Advanced 2008 Matt Cutts video by Dave Dugdale of rentVine.
“No one can blog about this for 29 days… keep under wraps… let’s not go too far… and remember, Matt Cutts is sitting out in the audience,” reminded Moderator Danny Sullivan just before the packed seo session, “Give it UP!” the last SMX session on the last day.
In keeping with Danny’s request, I can’t say for another 3 weeks what was said in the ‘Give it up!’ Session. (Hint: The Stephan Spencer presentation).
But, I can share you this photo just after the SMX session ended. Danny was frazzled to say the least. And Stephen was pleased, Danny was not.
Danny… remember Ricky Nelson’s Garden Party, “You see, ya can’t please everyone, so you got to please yourself”
Matt was explaining the universality of Google. This was in response to a point raised by Sean.
Formerly VP of Yahoo Search Technology, Sean was interviewed by Microsoft President Steve Ballmer. “I wasn’t sure if Microsoft was going to put the proper resources toward Bing. So I asked Steve, just how dedicated to search is Microsoft? What is your goal. Ballmer replied, 51%.”
We were stunned. For a brief moment you could hear a pin drop in the crowded auditorium. Could Bing gain a competitive advantage over Google? All eyes were on Matt Cutts. Well Matt?
At first Cutts appeared a bit reflective, he started out slowly explaining advancements in search technology, spam busting and overall user search experience. He got to his feet, walked over to the podium and spoke of Google as the greatest search engine of today and tomorrow. Alleluia!
Right now, I have to agree with Matt. But what if?