Search engine optimisation is a field that is ever evolving. In their quest to provide users with the most appropriate links related to a users specific search phrase; search engine algorithms are becoming more and more complex. A small change to the algorithm can have some dramatic knock on effects on a search engine optimiser’s effort to promote a web site. This means that it is vital for anyone working in a search engine optimisation role to keep up to date on any changes that search engines make, or may make, and adapt their working practises accordingly. One of the best ways to keep up to date with the most recent changes is to get involved in forums and blogs. This article is going to outline a couple of the reasons that spending time connecting with other SEO workers via forums and blogs can be vital in becoming successful.

Search engines are notoriously secretive about exactly what their algorithms take into account when ranking websites in its SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages). As such the only way to get an idea of what continues to work and what doesn’t is through trial and error and running some experiments. An SEO could spend months doing this, by which time their findings would most likely be out of date. However by joining a forum with a few hundred other SEO’s, all attempting to figure out the same things, knowledge can be shared and everyone can achieve a greater understanding of what search engines like and what they dislike.

Forums are also a great resource for newcomers to the field for similar reasons. While there are educational books available on search engine marketing the research that went into the books is typically out of date by the time it has been written up, proofed, printed then finally distributed. While the base knowledge books provide will generally prove useful spending some time on forums and reading current blogs can provide vast amounts of much more up to date (and thus applicable) information.

Much like everything on the internet; forums and blogs have to be taken with a pinch of salt. It is always worth bearing in mind that the post/blog is the opinion of one person and should never be taken as gospel. Instead it is best to read, and contribute to, whole conversations and then compare and contrast this information with personal findings to reach conclusions.