vbSEO -- is it worth the price ?

[joeychgo]

IMO...

No, its not.

What your basically paying for is the mod-rewrite since most if not all of the other elements are available for free as a hack or something you can do yourself as a template edit easily.

Ok, now that said. What VBSEO basically does is change your URLs to more simple URLs without variables.

A thread titled:
Probably a stupid question, but...

Ends up with a URL like this:
http://www.yourdomain.com/f2/probabl...tion-but-2429/

Instead of

http://www.yourdomain.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2429

Now this does 2 things basically. It makes a URL with no variables and it adds keywords to the url. While it was once true that search engine spiders had a difficult time spidering URLs with multiple variables, this is no longer the case.

Here is proof. Take a look at Google's index of vBulletin.com pages HERE - vb.com has 2,750,000 pages indexed in google. Lets check vb.org HERE- 445,000 pages indexed - how about a few others? Digital Point - 567,000, TIVO Community - 1,340,000 pages indexed.

All of these have stock vb urls and are clearly indexed fine. So, we have now established that the mod rewrite isnt necessary to be indexed by Google.

SO that leaves us with the keywords in the URL.

Are they helpful in getting ranked? Short answer is yes. However, Google uses over 100 different factors in determining how a particular page ranks for a search query. Each Factor carries different level of importance. Oh, one more thing, Google changes these around pretty regularily, so what works well today may not work tomorrow. Point being, they might 'help' in getting your page ranked, but they are onlya small part of the equasion.

Let me explain something else. Being indexed means little if your pages dont rank well. The difference is this. Indexed means google maintains a listing of your page in its computers. Ranked Well means when someone searches for a phrase that is important to your site, your site appears in the first few pages in the listings. It takes alot more then just words in a url to get ranked well, unless its a very obscure phrase.

Here is what I think is a great example.

Search for the phrase vBulletin. That phrase is the most important phrase to someone trying to sell a vBulletin product. vBseo doesnt appear in the first 10 pages! vBulletin Webmaster appears 3rd after vBulletin.com and vBulletin Fans. None of those sites use a mod rewrite or have the keyword in the url. Proof is in the pudding.

It is my opinion that although its a help, its a minor help.

If you want to rank better, Here is what I suggest. First, spend half that money any buy Arron Walls SEO BOOK. Read it. Learn about Search Engines. What it takes is too long to go into here. Its best you read the book and learn about SEO.

Second, visit and become active in forums like Digital Point, vB Webmaster, and Webmaster World, ask questions, and learn about SEO and how to apply it to vBulletin Forums.

Third, SEO is something you have to work for. There isnt a 'magic pill' you can install and instantly rank high. It takes time and effort. Its not a plugin. BUT, you CAN do it.

Let me add one more thing. In a PM discussion on vBwebmaster, vBSEO said this to me:
I have to say I agree with you %100 in the fact that mod_rewrite is not necessary to get pages indexed.



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[BamaStangGuy]

Yes it is worth it. I use it.

I also own SEOBook and they both compliment each other nicely.

[joeychgo]

Where does your site rank for Ford Mustang Forums? I see the phrase in your sig so I assume your targeting it.

By the way - http://www.muscle-mustangs.com/ took my advice awhile back and now ranks 7th for that phrase.


There's more then one way to skin a cat my friend.

[BamaStangGuy]

Originally Posted by joeychgo

Where does your site rank for Ford Mustang Forums? I see the phrase in your sig so I assume your targeting it.

By the way - http://www.muscle-mustangs.com/ took my advice awhile back and now ranks 7th for that phrase.


There's more then one way to skin a cat my friend.

What, you mean placing links in my footer that provide my visitors with no value what so ever?

No thanks, they can have their 7th ranking in google Look at Muscle-Mustangs.com sites stats and look at mine.

They may get more visitors and have more members but who sticks around and posts.

Originally Posted by Mustang Evolution

Threads: 16,126, Posts: 253,593, Members: 2,461, Active Members: 410

Originally Posted by Muscle-Mustangs

Threads: 5,531, Posts: 49,517, Members: 2,849

I am not even trying to put down Muscle-Mustangs, I have helped them and currently am helping them with a personal problem that one of their moderators is going through right now.

I believe you said it best:

:gaysmilie: There's more then one way to skin a cat my friend.

[joeychgo]

Originally Posted by BrentWilson

No thanks, they can have their 7th ranking in google Look at Muscle-Mustangs.com sites stats and look at mine.

They may get more visitors and have more members but who sticks around and posts.

AH, well SEO can only help being members to a site, SEO cant help you keep them - thats community management.

[BamaStangGuy]

Originally Posted by joeychgo

AH, well SEO can only help being members to a site, SEO cant help you keep them - thats community management.

My goal is not to spam my way up to number 1 which, in my opinion is all that you are doing when you put those links in your footer. I would rather achieve it the way google actually wants you to do it. Through actual linking from actual related sites. Maybe that is not possible, due to techniques used by sites like yours and Muscle-Mustangs, but what I dont get from search engines I make up for with the wealth of information and knowledge that my members/staff posses and can be found within the site.

[joeychgo]

I use alot of different SEO methods, not just one. I have many many NATURAL organic links to my sites. I have done alot with things like optimizing keyword relevance, title and meta tag work, internal linking, keyword relevance and deep linking, to name just a few.

Dont get me wrong, you have a pretty good site - hell, Id buy it in a blink for a reasonable price -

I would suggest you buy the book from Aaron Wall I mentioned. Its a great book that can help show you alot of things about SEO and really help your site take off.

[jward]

Targeting only a few select keyword phrases really shows a lack of understanding of how to effectively leverage the wealth of content that is generated by vBulletin forums. SEO on a thread-by-thread basis will generate traffic for 1000s of keywords.

@joeychgo: You just created showpost.php duplicate content by copy/pasting your DigitalPoint message here.

[BamaStangGuy]

Originally Posted by joeychgo

I use alot of different SEO methods, not just one. I have many many NATURAL organic links to my sites. I have done alot with things like optimizing keyword relevance, title and meta tag work, internal linking, keyword relevance and deep linking, to name just a few.

Dont get me wrong, you have a pretty good site - hell, Id buy it in a blink for a reasonable price -

I would suggest you buy the book from Aaron Wall I mentioned. Its a great book that can help show you alot of things about SEO and really help your site take off.

I already own SEOBook and have read it

I will take a look at your articles on your site and give them a chance however.

[joeychgo]

Dont get me wrong, some of the things in the SEO hack are just fine - but doable without paying the $150. What the hack does thats complicated is the mod rewrite. That, first of all, is available here as a hack somewhere for free I believe. Changing things like meta tags and the other various things you can do yourself. The vBSEO sitemap is a good product however, (which is a free hack listed here) and ill bet is responsibile for more of the gains people have seen then the mod rewrite portion.

There is alot more to do - and alot of it is off page - meaning link building, which I know your doing brent. The point of my opinions are, that this hack is not worth the $150 and if people think paying that is all you need to do to get ranked well they are very mistaken.

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