| Doing search engine optimization (SEO) is | | | | SEO, you are battling against other websites |
| just like playing a massive multiplayer | | | | using the same search term. Competing for |
| online role playing game (MMORPG) - without | | | | that keyword is the actual battle. |
| the spiffy graphics. SEO's concept, in | | | | |
| comparison to MMORPGs like World of Warcraft, | | | | The Missions |
| Anarchy Online, Lineage, etc. are so similar. | | | | |
| This is coming from a MMORPG player whom has | | | | Completing missions in SEO is relatively |
| gone from one game to another. My previous | | | | simple. All you have to do to complete the |
| game was Anarchy Online (a couple years | | | | missions is get listed in directories, get |
| back). Today, I am addicated to the game of | | | | back links, etc. You gain more experience |
| SEO. | | | | points each time you complete a mission. |
| | | | |
| The World | | | | Crafting Skills |
| | | | |
| In SEO, the world consists of the major | | | | Something that is useful when participating |
| search engines: Google, MSN, Yahoo. The | | | | in battles is crafting. Crafting is building |
| smaller worlds (Ask.com, AltaVista, | | | | links in order to help your website win |
| AlltheWeb, etc.) struggle to gain more | | | | battles. The objective is to make a good |
| interest and popularity with the players. | | | | product. For example: if you achieve a back |
| They have yet to offer enough incentive or | | | | link on a page with 25 outgoing links and |
| loot to play there yet. | | | | barely any content related to yours, you are |
| | | | not better off than a craftsman whom achieved |
| The Character | | | | a back link on a page that is related in |
| | | | content with few outgoing links. |
| Playing the game of SEO, your character is | | | | |
| simply you playing in the online virtual | | | | Social Importance |
| world. | | | | |
| | | | It may be important to you, it may not. |
| The Levels | | | | Having social importance in the SEO world can |
| | | | be a great advantage when dealing with other |
| Leveling up in MMORPGs is like moving up the | | | | webmasters just like you. If you are a ganker |
| ranking positions in the search engines. In | | | | (someone that kills weaker players than |
| order to level up, you must participate in | | | | them), it's black hat. If you are good ol' |
| battles and gain more experience points. You | | | | regular player, it's white hat. Having a good |
| can also gain experience points by completing | | | | reputation in webmaster forums like Digital |
| missions and crafting. Once you are at a high | | | | Point, V7N, NamePros, DNForum, etc. will help |
| level, it is much easier to generate a good | | | | you with the game. If you have built up trust |
| amount of loot. | | | | among other players, you are able to buy |
| | | | things cheaper and just have an easier time |
| The Weapons | | | | doing business with other players. |
| | | | |
| Your websites are your weapons. If you have | | | | Addiction |
| to fight in battles, you will need a weapon. | | | | |
| Your websites help you fight your way through | | | | SEO is addictive. Once you start playing, |
| directories, back links, etc. | | | | your addiction grows larger and larger. |
| | | | Unlike the actual MMORPGs, SEO never runs out |
| The Battles | | | | of missions or things to do. You keep at it |
| | | | as your portfolio of websites and web income |
| In the MMORPG, you usually battle against | | | | grows bigger. |
| other characters or auto-generated monsters. | | | | |