What’s The Art of SEO?
The Art of SEO is a book authored by SEO and Digital Marketing experts, Eric Enge (Stone Temple Consulting), Stephan Spencer (Netconcepts) Rand Fishkin (SEOmoz) and Jessie C. Stricchiola (Alchemist Media). You can get a brief preview on Google Books, read several reviews, or admire the author’s achievement in being recently voted “Best Search Engine Optimization Book in 2009″ by readers of Lee Odden’s TopRankBlog.
Who is it aimed at?
The book begins with the most fundamental of SEO concepts, required reading for the beginner, a handy refresher for the intermediate and a welcome return to the basics for the seasoned practitioner. I particularly enjoyed the “Market Share of Search Engines” and “Determining Searcher Intent” sections in Chapter one, before being immersed in Chapter two’s “Algorithm based Ranking Systems” and “Using Advanced Search Techniques” pages.
As the book aims to add value to readers from a range of levels of experience, there is something for everyone to read. The in-house SEO Manager would find Chapter three, “Determining your SEO Objectives and Defining Your Site’s Audience” while students looking to gain an introduction to technical, keyword research and link building would enjoy chapters five, six and seven.
What sort of tips are in the book?
I found myself folding the corners of pages over if there was a tip or a bookmark-able resource I’d like to return to. I made almost 40 of these! Sections worthy of a re-read include: “Domain Changes, Post SEO Redesigns and Troubleshooting” and the “Tracking Results and Measuring Success”, a chapter that gives a solid primer in SEO Analytics. I also loved the tip in Chapter Ten around looking for pages not receiving search traffic in a specified time period that do get crawled by search bots, which sounded very much like something Stephan might discuss at a search marketing conference…
Is this book for me?
It can’t be easy writing a book on SEO, especially when the project is group based. Though there are many SEO books available, not all stand the test of time when it comes to the durability of the advice and facts given in the content. That’s not because the books are bad, it’s because our industry has moved and evolved so quickly. This evolution and fast pace of development has created the need to establish and communicate “core” best practice in SEO. This is what the authors of the book have done, and in my opinion, rather successfully. The Art of SEO is an excellent read for SEO’s of many levels and is worth the time invested to read it properly.
Win a copy of The Art of SEO
We thought it might be nice to kick off 2010 with a little competition – so, we’re giving away a copy of The Art of SEO to one of our lucky readers! Given the subject matter contained in The Art of SEO, we thought it might be fun to create a tips based competition..
Simply give an SEO tip of your own for 2010 – it can be based on what you feel is important to SEO in the coming year, a subject you’d like to improve on, something you’re interested in, a prediction, a link building tip or anything that takes your fancy. The prize will go to the most creative, entertaining and downright actionable tip we recieve, as judged by our panel of judges. The competition closes on January 8th 2010 and the winner will be notified on Monday 11th January. The top entries will be published on the blog.
Complete the form below and best of luck!
This competition is now closed! Go to: And the Winner is… [The Art of SEO Competition Results]
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{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
smashing review, Richard! i have bought in and I am off to order the book right now. happy new year
Hi David, glad to hear it – all the best of luck in 2010!
It’s also available as an e-book on the Itunes store! Have been reading it for a while, a top book for SEO!
Quite – I heard someone mention that on Twitter last night. Tell you what – I love reading on my iPhone, but I prefer the real thing…
Agreed the Itunes app is usefull for reading in the Gym etc, but the hard copy of this book is permanently chained to my desk at work
Definately in my top 3 marketing books of 2009.
I have heard lot of positive reviews about the book & would love to have one! Have contributed a tip, fingers crossed.
Really keen to read the book, sounds very interesting!
I feel my competition entry may be lacking in humour though. And creativity. And the ability to be actioned.
I should really stop submitting that picture as a competition entry. It’s really not appropriate.
Hi Phill – all of the entries are excellent so far! You can enter as many times as you like, too – I’ll use the best one, ok?
Excellent, I’ll whip my camera out and get multiple angles.
This was my reading material over the xmas. It is an excellent book for a grounding in seo. I wished the link building chapter was fleshed out a bit with possible examples of good link request emails etc. but would recommend it to anyone with an interest in SEO
The tab index here is all up the spout.
Hardly the most innovative comment I have made, even this year, but I was frustrated by it.
Fingers crossed.. I can feel a free book coming my way!
There have been some brilliant / funny / creative and high quality entries so far. Thanks to everyone who has eneterd – there’s still time to add your entry or enter again. Good luck!
Hi Richard, Nice review. It even convinced me to pick up a copy from Amazon. Anything with Rand Fishkin is involved in is worth a read, surely…
Awesome review, thanks Richard. I was on 2 minds which book to get on Amazon until I followed the link to your site. Your review has defineltly tipped the balance in favour of this book for me as it sounds perfect for what we are trying to achieve.
Do you have a recommendation for a Google Analytics book
Cheers
Simon
Hi Simon
Yes I do! I’m reading “Web Analytics 2.0: The Art of Online Accountability and Science of Customer Centricity” by by Avinash Kaushik
It’s a great read so far and highly recommended!
I couldn’t resist on replying to this – take a look at Advanced Web Metrics with Google Analytics by Brian Clifton. Amazon is obviously best for independent reviews but there is also a site: http://www.advanced-web-metrics.com
However do not buy the first edition – second edition (complete re-write) is due in March
Best regards, Brian
Author
What?! Still time to enter. OK then, count me in. God knows I need all the SEO help I can get…