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