Why should I care about SEO?

Did you stumble here through a link on your Facebook wall and immediately ask yourself "Why should I care about SEO?" Or maybe you thought "What the heck is SEO?" There are explanations for both of these questions, the latter requiring a much simpler response so I'll start there. SEO is a commonly used acronym for Search Engine Optimization. Search Engine Optimization is the process of increasing a websites 'page rank.' Page rank refers to where a particular website appears on the list of websites a search engine (Google, Yahoo, etc.) turns up for a particular search inquiry. Secondly, EVERYONE should care about SEO. Technology is becoming more integrated into our lives every day. The internet is one of the most important among these new technologies and the primary cause of the "flattening" of the world as put by Thomas Friedman. Can you guess who the most prominent/important/valuable online company is? I'll give you a hint, it's not Facebook...It's Google! The most powerful search engine of them all, controlling 80% of all search engine traffic, and one of the most valuable companies in the world on or off the web.

SEO specialists, figuratively, try to pick the brain of the mega giant. They compete with other SEOs to be displayed at the top of search results for certain keywords or keyphrases someone, such as yourself, enters into Google's search box. This process is extremely complicated and SEOs are always being forced to adapt new criteria for Google's ever changing page rank algorithms.

Being informed in the subject of SEO gives you a competitive edge in today's market. You are able to spread your ideas or company across the web. You are capable of directing web traffic however you choose. You have an understanding of how the most powerful company on the web operates!

If you still are questioning whether or not SEO matters to you, are you majoring in any of the following?

1. Computer Science/Programming

2. Business/Marketing

3. Math/Engineering

4. Writing

5. Design

If so, SEO matters to you more than you know.

Here's the list with explanations for each major.

SEO consulting firms and the in-house SEO branch of some larger businesses hire graduates primarily with one of these degrees. There is no formal 'SEO major' and it's not a topic typically covered in college classes (I could not find any mentioning of SEO by any department at the U of A, despite looking through courses in Eller's marketing courses, Computers Science courses, SISTA courses, and speaking with students and staff in each department). Theses majors cover topics relevant to different occupations in an SEO company but do not touch on it directly. Being informed in SEO gives you an advantage over other graduates who may also want a job at an SEO company, but lack any actual SEO skills or abilities because they never joined the Student SEO Syndicate at the U of A.

Why would anyone want to work in SEO?

Working in SEO appeals only to those wanting a 6 figure salary, those wanting to learn a trade that is valuable to almost any business, and those wanting the option to work for yourself as a consultant, at a small SEO agency or large companies with in-house SEO specialists.

It is truly hard to believe that SEO is not yet a major.  If you want to learn something that is going to give you an advantage over others and make you stick out to companies even at a young age, I urge you to come to our first meeting.  The more people we have in our club, the more we can all learn.  Keep in mind we will be using SEO on real companies in the Tucson area and you will be able to watch your hard work be put to use in the the business world.

What: Student SEO Syndicate's introductory meetings

When: Friday, March 2. 5:30pm-6:30pm and Wednesday, March 7. 5:30pm-6:30pm

Where: U of A campus, Psych building, room 308
52DNT 530 5ND1C8