successful sites without SEO?

[NewKidOnTheBlock]

Say you have an idea for a really great site that would be truly useful and all (blabla), but the field just looks way too competitive and we're not living in a perfect world where youll still get to the top.

Would you ever make such a site?

Maybe if the site had viral marketing potential it would be a good idea to give it a try? or if the site is truly great you might have chances to get some extremely powerful links from high authority sites (which would further help spread your site's name)?

For example: I didnt find out about SEO, Internet Marketing & Web Analytics by chance, but because I spent about 2 years after high school exploring different fields and asking people from all those different fields tons of questions about their jobs.

I think I could help most people who graduate from high school take a systematic approach on how to find a great career (taking 2 years like I did might have been a tad bit overdone...but you get the idea).

Maybe I could make a great site about it and try to find a way to get links from related high authority sites and get traffic that way? (and probably some long tail searches, too...)...maybe by writing a short e-book packed with useful information and giving it away for free (or well for a link)

This is only one idea, though. I also have other ideas that are for smaller niches and thus have better potential to spread within those communities..

Im just curious if anybody has successfully promoted a website before without SEO/PPC..just through word-of-mouth/viral marketing...or authoritative links that send a lot of direct traffic.

[Musica]

Have made a real estate website back than, it was not that seo friendly since i did not have the knowledge nor do I even know it exist. My marketing was strictly offline and it draw arnd a few hundred in the first week and later a few thousand but than after arnd 2 years everything just went down hill. Not too sure why, but maybe lack of sustain marketing

[jesse1]

viral videos or slideshows with inspiration music can have a huge viral effect

[sheena]

Viral marketing or word of mouth could be a better idea if you have no knowledge of seo or website promotion. Viral marketing could in the form of funny video clip, games, flash games , images and sms messages.

[NewKidOnTheBlock]

I do have knowledge of SEO..its actually my main skill (though I dont see it as a standalone product).

However Ive never tried to create a site and be successful with it just based on viral marketing (Ive only been into web marketing for about a year now).

And I have a couple of ideas for which there are either a) way too competitive keywords or b)keywords that dont give much traffic..however I still like the ideas.

[Manish Pandey]

Viral Marketing these stuffs on Social Media Websites...they could also give you huge traffic!

[Brazzell Marketing]

The answer to your question on my part is "No, I would never make a site without the basics of SEO." SEO basics are cheap if you are paying someone and free if you have time and inclination to do it yourself. So why wouldn't you? Of course, there are SEO markeing services that charge a significant fee and are worth every penny of it, but you don't have to be #1 to be the best. If you are marketing niches as you say, optimization should not be hypercompetitive, and search results should therefore be fair based on the relevancy of your content. I say make your niche site(s) and try the SEO basics in addition to the creative viral marketing that appeals to you.

I also think Musica hit the nail on the head with her marketing insight: What ever you do to get there, you have to keep doing the same thing or better to stay there.

[augy76]

You can do, but why should you miss the easiest way to get traffic? If your site has potential to get lot of repeat visitors, you can succeed with PPC traffic itself. Depends on the site, niche and your business plan.

[webcosmo]

SEO is kind of a skill. But in my opinion without any SEO knowledge if you go ahead and build a website you would be ok, if you have a good quality content. Because content will do that for you kind of. Doing SEO just enhances your site performace as per pulling visitors.