Posted by : Tom Doyle in (Online Marketing) 29th Oct, 2008
Geansai Gorm - the latest “Greatest SEO” competition
Tagged Under : Gaelige, Geansai Gorm, Google, Google search, Search engine optimization, SEO, Web search engine
Damien Mulley, via the Irish Web Awards, has launched the latest search for Ireland’s greatest SEO.
Entrants are asked to try and rank their site number 1 in Google for the gaelic phrase “Geansai Gorm” (translated to Blue Jumper).
The basic rules are that you must use a brand new domain name, none of the keywords can appear in your domain and you can’t use 301 redirects.
I’ve never been a fan of these competitions myself because for an established SEO it’s an easier task to achieve results than those that have nothing to start with. Generally an established SEO also has access to a number of strong sites that they can quickly get good links from.
Already this morning there are a number of blogs that are appearing in Google for ”Geansai Gorm” which will make the task for the entrants that little bit harder.
It will be interesting to see who the winner will be none the less! Hopefully the winner can do the whole site “as gaelige” too!
I don’t think I would be capable of doing a whole site as Gaeilge.
The competition should be fun, I just hope that people don’t start spamming blogs/forums over this…
Paul
Good man Paul!!! First one on the ball getting some links back to your site. Best luck with the competition!!!
RE: site as gaelige - that’s a pity!
RE: Blogs / forums well it’s started already and I’m not helping I guess… sorry!
I don’t think your blog post is SPAM. I more mean, people registering usersnames in IWF.ie or maybe thing of point spam robots on this project.
My Irish isn’t up to speed to do it
It’s just for fun but I have a feeling that none of the new domains will rank #1 but some other old website that blogs about it using the term itself. It’s been only 24 hours and the result in google.ie are shifting already….
Hi Louie,
Yeah I’d be surprised at this stage if a new domain appeared above any of the blogs or forums that mention it.
It will be fun to see the progress though!
Tom
Tom, a search for “geansai gorm” already shows that some of teh domains created just for this are appearing on google’s front page.
There weren’t that many to begin with anyway. I did a search yesterday and there about 150 references to “geansai gorm” - not hard to skew that towards a single domain. (btw: http://verens.com/ for your geansai gorm needs
Hi Kae,
Sorry when I read back my comment there it doesn’t really say what I meant.
I really meant when the competition is over that I’d be surprised if a new domain were to still be top!
You signing up for the competition too?
Looks like you are currently sitting at #1 Tom
I think the final results for the older domains will bring some good viewing.
I was for a while, but gone again! I imagine there will be huge shifts in the SERPs over the coming month!
Only time could tell but yes there will some shifting in the SERPs…
By the rules http://www.mulley.net/2008/10/28/mirror-mirror-on-the-wall-whos-the-greatest-seo-of-them-all/ you don’t have to rank 1st in google for the term search.
I think you just have to rank first OUT OF THE NEW SITES ( registered after 28.10.08 ).
Am I right? Somebody should ask Damien…
What I’m amazed at, is how quickly Google picks up sites and how frequently it juggles the positions around.
@ Me : Yes I imagine it will be out of the new sites as that is the rule. But with so many blogs discussing it now, all we are saying is that it will be impressive if a new site appeared above them.
Tom are you going to have a shot at it with another domain, seeing as your in the business? You could possibly direct traffic from here to your new domain.
Roger
I thought about it, but I just wouldn’t have the time to do it properly. I also don’t think it would be fair for me or other SEO pros to be involved as it’s too easy for us to access many sites and generate links back in an instant.
As you pointed out, I could easily just link back from this blog my site and rename all your comments with my domains URL - but that would be nasty!
Some might say that having a number of assets to push a domain is all part of SEO and the good ones will be able to use these tools.
Personally I don’t subscribe to that view and would agree with Eoghan. Ultimately if someone creates a site with content of value that attracts genuine visitors and makes genuine connections it will win out in the long term….but in the case of a 1 month time period it’s a bit blacker than that. (didn’t put link in this time - thought I was being far too cheeky as it was).
Link away - that’s part of the game!
Yes having a number of assets to push the domain to is part of SEO, but that doesn’t make for great competition in this case. It doesn’t put everyone on a level playing field.
I don’t agree with Eoghan’s “SEO is bullshit” post. And have posted reasons why on this blog (search for SEO is bullshit)
[...] Tom Doyle hoped for it … other people complained about the Grammar in use on peoples sites … (roseane Smith on twitter) but one person has gone and created a Geansaí Gorm website completely as gaeilge [...]
[...] Geansai gorm as Gaeilge [...]