History of Search Engine Optimization as a Profession

In today’s digital age, businesses recognize the importance of a strong online presence. As a result, the demand for skilled professionals in the field of SEO has skyrocketed. According to Lore (you can Google this), in 1997, the manager of Jefferson Starship supposedly became upset because the band’s official website did not appear as the 1^st link when a user searched for “Jefferson Starship.” Whether it’s true or not, it is important to look back at the evolution of search to understand how a job sector grew from simple internet directory listings.

The Evolution of Internet Search

Internet search has a longer history starting with the development of Yahoo, AltaVista, Excite, and Lycos in 1994. Yahoo, for instance, began as a traditional web directory of interesting sites, and in 1995, it developed a search engine that provided users with the best websites that have been approved by editors. During that time, webmasters had to manually submit their websites to Yahoo in order to be included. One year later, Sergey Brin and Larry Page created a new link-based search engine that based rankings on the relevancy of inbound links, the idea being that more “important” webpages are more likely to acquire more links to them. In 1998, the duo launched Google, which later served as an answer to the growing problem of spam and relevancy among the other search engines. 

image from: https://seoagentura.lv/en/what-is-seo/

During the late 90s, search engines had to rely on webmasters to accurately portray their websites through good and relevant content, an accurate URL structure, and inbound and external links (this is where the sub-industry of link building started), which set the groundwork for SEO’s formative years. From 2000-2003, optimizing a website meant updating meta tags and modifying keywords in an attempt to improve a website’s results. Some webmasters began manipulating their use of keywords to increase the likelihood that their website would rank higher than others. Finding that the practice worked, they continued using it until Google’s Guidelines classified the practice of keyword stuffing under “irrelevant keywords.” In 2003, Google had its first major update with Florida. This update addressed keyword stuffing and these other black hat practices:

• Keyword stuffing
• Multiple sites under the same brand name
• Invisible text
• Hidden link tactics

Google began rolling out more and more algorithm changes over the years, now making thousands each year. Some of the algorithm updates are relatively small, but there are instances where the updates can make a significant impact on the search engine results pages. As Google has dominated the search space, they use algorithm updates to improve their product by supplying the best experience for their users. To that end, it became crucial for all websites to be actively supported and optimized to remain relevant to Google’s users. As this need developed, a new profession appeared to address the growing demands for SEO services and expertise. 

Understanding Dagmar Marketing 

One of the leading players in this domain is Dagmar Marketing, a renowned digital marketing agency specializing in delivering exceptional SEO services to clients across various industries. Dagmar Marketing is an award-winning agency with a mission to empower businesses through data-driven digital marketing strategies. With a sharp focus on content and technical SEO, Dagmar helps its clients achieve higher rankings on search engine results pages (SERPs), increased website traffic, and, ultimately, more conversions and revenue.

A Note From Our Writer: I joined Dagmar Marketing as an SEO Account Manager at the beginning of July. I was a Senior SEO Specialist at a large agency and was looking for a new position with a digital marketing agency that approaches search engine optimization with a holistic strategy that includes content and technical SEO to drive higher rankings and conversions. Joining Dagmar Marketing was driven by my desire to join a digital marketing company that not only shares my passion for SEO, but has a track record of success. I spoke with three other SEO agencies. Not only did my Dagmar Marketing align most closely with my SEO strategy, but they also have the resources and expertise to set clients up for success from day one. 

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