As most of you probably know, I work as a computer consultant and I’ve tried to use those skills to develop high-tech features within OurEcho. I believe the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) functionality that I have included in OurEcho is probably the one feature that sets OurEcho apart from other sites. SEO is the practice of optimizing website content so that it can be easily accessed and cataloged by search engines like Google and Yahoo. I’ve spent a lot of time creating algorithms and processes within OurEcho to make sure that every story posted to the site is properly digested by the major search engines. The goal is to allow your stories to easily be found by as many people as possible. Let me just say that it appears to be working spectacularly, though at the moment I’m not too happy about it.
In January, 2000, I had the honor (or misfortune - depending on how you look at it) to have one of the 10 ugliest shoes in America. A local Atlanta shoe store chain was having a contest to find the Ugliest Shoes in America and I ended up as one of the 10 finalist. I won $500, but in fact, DID NOT win the coveted Ugliest Shoe in America title. I wish the story ended here, but I’m sorry to report the saga continues.
After I created OurEcho, I wrote a quick essay about my “ugliest shoe” experience and posted it on OurEcho. Every now and then, I would notice a new comment or some recent activity. Last week, I was looking at OurEcho web statistics and noticed that my George Washington Carver story had become the most popular story on OurEcho. George Washington Carver is a well known name, so it’s reasonable that it has brought in a number of hits from search engines. However, what did surprise me was my “Ugliest Shoes in America” post was also in the top 20.
So I dug a little deeper into my web statistics and noticed that each month, more and more hits to the story were coming from search engines. So I looked at my “key word” statistics and it was quickly apparent the key words bringing in the hits were “ugliest shoes”. And that’s when it hit me. My name was directly associated with the words “ugliest shoes”. I quickly swapped over to the Google and typed in “ugliest shoes”. To my horror, my story and my name came up in the second position ( I think it is now in the third position)
The one and two positions for keywords are very coveted spots and I guess I should be thrilled that I was able to move up there. But why did it have to be with that association?
I realize I may not be the most fashionable person around, but now I have to carry around the stigma of it being out there for everyone to see. Right now, people in Russia are probably wondering who has the ugliest shoes in the world and they’re typing it in and thinking – “Looks like this Scott Lupo is right up there at the top.” Damn.
Just for the record, the next story that I write that includes my name is going to contain references to extraordinary skills and expertise whether I truly possess them or not (I’m thinking world’s greatest lover). When Google sorts it out, my name will be associated with it and that’s all that counts.