The Archers discussion of SEO

rural life in the digital age

[norton radstock]

Interested to hear a discussion of SEO and link building on the archers today, of all places.....going to have to start reading the Archers message board at the BBC instead of Webmasterworld!

(for non British readers, the Archers is a long running UK radio soap about life in rural England)

[Old_Honky]

I am a great fan of the archers and I really hate the younger characters which have been bought in over the last few years, obviously to appeal to a younger demographic. (I am pretty certain this is a lost cause as the "everyday story of country folk" has about as much relevance to them as the shipping forecast).
The character "Pip" daughter of the weak and easily manipulated farmer David and his wife with the cod geordie accent (who's name escapes me) is the worst of the lot; her SEO advice to Tom's girlfriend who already works in marketing and would probably know all this anyway is really irritating. "Pip" needs to be the next casualty in this slowly dying saga hopefully by defenestration from one of the village's tallest buildings.

[johnhh]

everyday story of country folk

I am pretty sure that The Archers was originally used as a new way to actually give information about latest ideas to farmers. Now I guess a website to promote your farm shop is just a modern take on that.

Haven't listened for years - but some of my family do using podcasts. Is it still on after the shipping forcasts ?

Is there any method of killing off characters still to be used ? What happened to the Grundys ?

[Old_Honky]

The Grundys are still going strong, Joe with his farmers lung still clings precariously to life.

Latest death was Nigel Pargeter falling off the roof of his stately home.

They still use it as propaganda device and slip in seemingly irrelevant information from the agricultural consultant.e.g. "Sorry I can't come to the bull for a pint, I've got to study this new EU directive on milk quotas".

It is on at 7:00 GMT or BST every weekday evening, repeated sometime in the early afternoon the next day and there is an omnibus version Sunday Mornings. I find that to be too long to listen to all in one go.

The best ever character was old Walter Gabriel (died several years ago when the actor died) He used to greet Dan Archer as "Me old pal, me old beauty".

[piatkow]

his wife with the cod geordie accent (who's name escapes me)

Roof?

I haven't visitied the forum for a year or two but last time I looked the users of BBC Archers forum (referred to as "mustardland" because of the colour scheme)had some great nicknames for the characters.

The SEO issue was not explicitly to promote the site but to create good news stories that would push the bad news of the e-coli outbreak below the fold.

IIRC The Archers is actually the longest running soap in the world - its even older than me (just!)

[johnhh]

Walter Gabriel

I remember hanging on every word of the broadcast until he said something in that unique accent (Shropshire ? )- great actor.

May take up listening again - I know a younger member of the family listens to the omnibus edition.

Have to finish "House of Cards" first .. see other thread