almighty_monkey - 12:05 pm on Mar 23, 2011 (gmt 0)

I've only been in this game for two years - maybe I've missed some golden age of SEO or something.

But, my clients are still paying less per monitised user on SEO than PPC, affiliate marketing or traditional print or telesales. Social leads are about the same cost/profit ratio - but then social isn't suitible for every business. Some business' you just aren't interesting, or some industries would naturally gather too much negative feedback if they went public like that.

I've always been an advocate in the idea that SEO is best done as part of a larger advertising blitz. Other forms of PR, like social, can create links and create 'a buzz'. And besides, even if SEO is the best money making investment, if your core business model is good other forms of marketing are still going to make you money. Why would you limit yourself!?

Google Places. That's the big game changer for a lot of my clients. Not social.