In a different thread, someone said, "I keep wishing someone would start a thread on "how to succeed without Google." That is like saying I wish someone would start a thread on how to succeed without broadcast TV.
The problem is that most of you grew up with Google, or barely remember Lycos, Alta Vista, or the Yahoo days. Your world view is skewed by the fact that all you know or remember is Google. Take a moment to imagine a world without Google. In a world that didn't or does not have Google, what would you do to attract traffic?
I believe that the answer lies in viewing what you do as your "voice" or "influence". The more credible or influential your voice is, the more people will listen and thus buy your product or service.
I am a latecomer to the internet world. I only started 2 years ago. I, like most of you, focused on getting Google rankings. It was great for the year it lasted but like most of you, my site lost favor for no apparent reason and I even got a response from Matt Cutts letting me know that the problem was not manual but algorithmic. So I stepped back and evaluated how to survive and thrive without Google since I am not a brainiac who understands how algorithms work and how to fix things other than do a site redesign.
So I asked myself this question. Where do people hang out and go that are interested in or use "chartreuse widgets". I then went and hung out with those people and worked on expanding my voice and influence. Here is what I did.
1.
Listened first and talked later. Ever been at a meeting or party where 1 guy dominated the conversation? They interrupt, talk over people ect. Those types of people do not influence people, they irritate people.
2.
Brought value to the conversation. When I did speak, I did not just repeat or rehash what others have already said. I made sure that what I was saying was a new perspective or a fresh creative idea. I shared something that others had possibly not considered. You cannot do that if all you are doing is talking. You have to pay attention.
3.
I drew from deeper wells of resources. I spent my time getting my ideas and facts from well established and authoritative leaders in my niche rather than follow the latest craze. I spent time for my own personal growth in my niche so that I grew in my own authority. People will start listening to you when you have ideas that are unique and worth listening to.
4.
I learned to really listen. Many people when they are in a conversation are to busy thinking about the next thing they are going to say or how to impress others with what they say. Because of this they do not hear what is really being said. When I started listening, I realized that I was hearing a "need" on a regular basis with people who were using a popular social network. I decided to try and fill that need and the result has been awesome. It is totally Google independant, growing by word of mouth, and the only "authority" that it started with was the authority I brought to the table.
5.
I realized that it really isn't about me. People will smell self interest a mile away. When you realize that it isn't about you and you switch from self interest to really being interested in others, it will change your influence and voice in a big way. Zig Ziglar put it this way.
“You will get all you want in life, if you help enough other people get what they want.”
In my off-line career, we put it this way. Don't use people to build your ministry, use your ministry to build up people.
That is how you become a success without Google.
End result?
1. Replaced lost traffic from Google
2. Became syndicated on 2 PR5 websites on a weekly basis with 2 more PR7 and PR6 in the works.
3. Created a second website with 1600 members in 3 months.
4. Total page views 4 times what I started with between the 2 sites.
5. Double the income.
[edited by: tedster at 2:42 pm (utc) on Apr 25, 2013]
[edit reason] moved from another location [/edit]
