SEO topics have taken the Internet by storm, extending its reach even on Internet radio. Experts are quick to pounce on this technology via podcasts, offering expertise, tips and tactics. However, we know that not all SEO podcasts are created equal. And so I have taken the liberty of listing a few podcasts which I think is worthy of your time (look at me talk as if I’m some big SEO hotshot). Anyway, without further ado, here they are:

Podcast #1: SEO 101: The Beginning SEO

One of the best podcasts out there, hands down. Ranging from the very basic to advanced techniques discussions, SEO 101 caters to the different levels of expertise in SEO. Tips, tactics, news - you name it, they have it. Browse their neatly arranged categories for the desired topic and listen immediately. No time to sit in front of the computer for extended periods? Then download the episodes on MP3 format and plug them in your MP3 player. Now that’s learning on the go.

Podcast #2: Daily SearchCast

Featuring the latest news on search engine giants, the anchors of Daily SearchCast brings you the newest industry gossips from Google, MSN and other major search engines without sounding like a weather report. Humorous lines and witty yet razor-sharp commentaries gives you the itty-gritty facts on how these developments could affect and eventually change the face of search engine optimization.

Podcast #3: Mr SEO

Never mind the site layout. We came here for the goodies right? Mr SEO focuses on listeners’ questions and tries to answer them via podcast. These questions range from basic ones to advanced techniques, so there’s something for everybody. Though it lacks a sense of organization (podcasts are just arranged by date, no tags, or categories) or even a podcast search function, digging through the many episodes might give you a treasure of a find.

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Just last Thursday, Google decided to drop the PR of selected PayPerPost blogs to zero.  PayPerPost also acquired insider information that other similar networks will be affected.  Here’s an excerpt from Ted Murphy’s post at the IZEA community blog:

We now know from some of our friends inside of Google (thanks “bob”) that they are now looking for phrases such as PPP, PayPerPost,ReviewMe, Payu2blog, etc. in the text of your post. For that reason I would suggest refraining from using any type of this text in the body of your posts, sponsored or not. When you disclose thank the sponsor, not PPP.

At one point in the post, Murphy criticizes Google for not taking out on blogs like TechCrunch .  Of course, TechCrunch responds here.  But what really caught my eye was this part of their reply:

I can’t see a lot of bloggers being happy with losing Pagerank so we should see an exodus of bloggers out of PayPerPost (particularly ones with traffic) over the next few months. This will leave PayPerPost with inventory deficiencies that will result in diminished revenues making the PayPerPost business model unsustainable going forward.

 So what should the average blogger do?

If you read my post on the previous Google PR update, you’ll see that I’m a big fan of marching to your own drum rather than following Google’s because you’re afraid to lose PR.  Doing so has yielded positive results for some bloggers, like that guy who made $1500 out of the last PR update.

Don’t move out of PayPerPost immediately.  That is, if it’s been working well for you.  Some scared bloggers might move out, and if the number of advertisers doesn’t drop, you’ll have less to compete with. Wait it out a little, unless Google PR is something incredibly valuable to you.

Alternatively, you can sell paid posts (or links, for that matter) independently.  You don’t have to be part of a network like PayPerPost to do that.  The disadvantage is that you won’t be easily accessible to advertisers as you would be in the PayPerPost (or any advertising) network.  This means more work for you, especially if you’re going to be sneaky about it.

Instead of Google PageRank, use alternative statistics to measure the worth of your blog to advertisers.  There are other ways you can show this, like disclosing unique pageviews, RSS subscribers, etc.  Some people use figures from Alexa, but doing so is as accurate as a monkey counting bananas with a calculator.  Izea is coming up with RealRank, which should be interesting because the formulae, etc. will be disclosed publicly.

John Chow also wrote a post about how to sell links in a Nazi Google controlled internet.  Something you should check out, especially if you use Text Link Ads.

Any PayPerPost users among our readers?  What do you have to say about this issue?

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Ah, the Black Hat SEO world… something that invokes either a disappointing look or an evil grin.  Still, SEO practitioners - whatever their hat color - must look at black hat techniques from time to time.  Here’s why:

Your competition could be using black hat tips.  If they are, you need to understand their SEO gameplan well if you’re to outwit them.  You can only do that if you’re familiar with black hat seo techniques yourself.  Find out what their strategy is and try to beat them with your own tricks.  Or, you know, you could just report them when you find out (sneaky!).

Black hat tricks give you a better idea of how search engine algorithms work.  This is because black hat SEO practitioners exploit weaknesses in the algorithms, and use it at their own advantage.  This kind of knowledge will prove to be useful when you’re planning your SEO campaign.  Almost everyday, black hats figure out new ways to take shortcuts to the top of SERPs.  If you find out about these shortcuts, you can find a legit way to use them for your own site.

It’s much easier to explain to others what they can/can’t do during their SEO campaigns.  If you’re a web designer or SEO practitioner and your client is saying “I’ve heard something about raising your PR through a 301 redirect…” you need to know what your client is talking about.  A lot of people, especially those new to the SEO world, get a series of bad advice, often black hat in nature.  Knowing these techniques like the back of your hand can help you explain to people the downsides of applying them to their SEO campaign.

Because they make you look marginally cooler.  In other words, if you’re an SEO practitioner, you’d have more credibility if you know all the possible tricks - whether you actually apply them or not.  Although wearing an actual black hat on your head might make it seem like you’re trying too hard.

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In my previous post, I talked about the “What now?” aspect of the most recent Google PR update. Many popular bloggers ended up on the losing end.

If there were losers, there were also winners. And I’m not talking about Google.

An anonymous Problogger reader earned at least $1500 because of the PR update. (Click here for more details)

Basically, it’s the laws of supply and demand coming into play. Most of the blogs were scared off by the result of the PR update and stopped selling text link ads altogether, but the number of people who want to buy these ads are still relatively the same. Here’s a quote from the guy’s email:

1. About 50% of the blogs in my niche that used to sell text links have stopped doing so.
2. I’ve had about a 50% increase in demand for text link purchases in the last week.
3. I have had an increase in the number of private text link sales this week.
4. The amounts advertisers are willing to pay me have gone up.

See? Sometimes, not bowing to the big G pays off

Since Google just picked the top earners or the most popular blogs selling text links, the guys directly beneath them, those with roughly the same PR, but maybe not as much popularity or clout, are going to benefit big time - if they take the chance.

Of course, it’s going to turn into some kind of vicious cycle if Google decides to strike again. The new “Big Players” will be punished, some small fry will be scared, and others will benefit from the big guys taking the heat. Then, text link ads will be mostly sold underground and will be a market that Google can’t measure or control.

Any readers out there who was on the winning end of this PR update? Feel free to share your stories, please

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