Top Ten SEO's

[khasmoth]

Originally Posted by John Scott

Guy Kawasaki is more of a business blogger, borderline "Internet marketing", but not SEO by any stretch of the imagination.

Ok thanks for the heads up John! What about you John aren't you an SEO as well? I'll vote for you if you are.

Also I would like to vote for Aaron Wall of SEOBook.com

[tdd1984]

lol wheres john scott, and arron wall? on the top list

[TheBrain]

Originally Posted by Ferre

If he was not working in Google's kitchen he wouldn't know that much about SEO, it's not hard to look like an expert when you have access to all the inside information. Matt Cutts is just a spokesman, not a researcher, while all others research the effects of what they do, Matt Cutts only parrots his company's policy.

Put anyone on that position within Google and they'll have the same access to the knowledge that Matt displays and will be regarded as "experts". Sure, he knows the filters and algorithms better than anyone else but that isn't because he's such a good SEO expert, anyone could do that, given the access that he has.

I am sorry, Ferre, but there is no other Google kitchen guy that is so open and so ready to help the webmasters. And the fact that he has access to knowledge and enhances his own skills it's only natural. For you to say that he is just a spokesman shows that you are not really familiar with his work and professional background.

So, for your information, here's a short bio:

Matt Cutts joined Google as a Software Engineer in January 2000. Before Google, he was working on his Ph.D. in computer graphics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has an M.S. from UNC-Chapel Hill, and B.S. degrees in both mathematics and computer science from the University of Kentucky.

Matt wrote SafeSearch, which is Google's family filter. In addition to his experience at Google, Matt held a top-secret clearance while working for the Department of Defense, and he's also worked at a game engine company. He claims that Google is the most fun by far

[Ferre]

In my book, anyone who works, or has worked, for NSA is 'contaminated'. I know that the dude is an expert on data mining, I also know that the USA government's 'intelligence' would be very naive if they did not infiltrate the world's biggest personal data collector on the highest possible level. (and I don't think they are naive)

For me, the dude triggers alarm bells all the way. If it walks like a duck, and sounds like a duck...

[cessai]

nice list... they are not familiar to me but it seems that i already her the name of Danny Sullivan before.

[TheBrain]

Originally Posted by Ferre

In my book, anyone who works, or has worked, for NSA is 'contaminated'. I know that the dude is an expert on data mining, I also know that the USA government's 'intelligence' would be very naive if they did not infiltrate the world's biggest personal data collector on the highest possible level. (and I don't think they are naive)

For me, the dude triggers alarm bells all the way. If it walks like a duck, and sounds like a duck...

And then they let him run in the open to trigger alarm bells? Well, that's not so intelligent form the 'intelligence', don't you think? But enough about this. I read his blog, I use the advice there, it works for me... so I trust what works for me!
Btw... do you know the story of the ugly duckling? In the end the ugly duckling turned out to be a swan. One should not judge based on appearances.

[gastongr]

I was going to say it but Ferre already did it, so i will just follow him.
I agree that Matt Cutts is not a SEO.

He could have done a lot of great (or bad) work for Google, that doesn't matter here.
A SEO is not someone who works for a specific search engine, but for other people helping them rank better.

It's obvious that Matt Cutts knows more about Google than most of other people, but it's because he works there, not because he has experience optimizing websites.

[jasonpoteet]

Any top 10 list that doesn't have Todd Malicoat or Jim Boykin is lacking. I also like Shoemoney, but he pretty much laughs at SEO and is famous because of his dark art ability. Matt Cutts??? Matt Cutts???? Ferre is dead on about Cutts being on this list. No way Cutts should be within 500 miles of this list. Cutts is basically the teachers aid with the test answer key but some people want to praise him for being able to ace the test. Now that is comedy gold.

[netsearch]

Originally Posted by GChoi

They should also be on the list:
- Aaron Wall (I think he's very deserved of a place)
- John Scott (I think you must be being modest to leave out yourself)

Aaron Wall Great SEO?

In my opinion he is a marketing genius not a great SEO

IE

Get listed for easy search phrase "SEO book" only took me 8 days to get top 5 spot with newly regestered domain.

Tell everyone how great your are.

Cash in

Aaron I challenge you I am the leader in the SEO world Championship come over and beat me.
If you don't I will come over and beat you for SEO book www.seobook.org.uk

Hey should I be on this list?

[John Scott]

You really are misinformed. Aaron Wall is in the trenches and he knows SEO. You think you can beat him for that search term? Then you haven't done your research.

[DebbieV]

Originally Posted by netsearch

I am the leader in the SEO world Championship

Making it to the top for a "new" search phrase (3 days old??) and staying there are quite different. Declaring yourself the "leader" this early is quite premature.

[vangogh]

Aaron definitely deserves to be on the list. So does Rand, though I wouldn't expect him to have put himself on his own list. The problem with lists like this though is there are simply more than ten SEOs

The list from SEOmoz is actually the Top 10 SEO Leaders.

Rand was listing people influential in the seo community which is why you see someone like Matt Cutts on the list. Matt isn't really an SEO, but he sure influences a lot of seo thought.

I think as with all top 10 lists we'd each have our our own top 10. I read some of the people on Rand's list and some I don't. I also read other people not on the list who do influence my thought

As for John Scott? John don't you bill yourself as the anit-seo? Are you allowed to be on one of these lists or wouldn't the combination of seo and anti-seo somehow combine to annihilate the industry as we know it.

anti-seo or not you still make my list and have influenced the direction of my seo thougts.

[seorender]

Thanks for the list John, i would also like to vote for Aaron Wall

[linkstraffic]

Originally Posted by netsearch

Aaron I challenge you I am the leader in the SEO world Championship come over and beat me.

ahah, that's funny

[linkstraffic]

I don't know about some of them, that would be good to having each name along with the company name
Anyway I keep the list and will check out the SEO topics they are dealing with.
Thanks.

[mhmdkhamis]

thanks man

[Ferre]

Originally Posted by vangogh

Matt isn't really an SEO, but he sure influences a lot of seo thought.

No he doesn't. Google does.

Matt is nothing but a spokesperson for Google, anyone (with a brain) could do that.

As jasonpoteet mentioned;

Originally Posted by jasonpoteet

Cutts is basically the teachers aid with the test answer key but some people want to praise him for being able to ace the test. Now that is comedy gold.

I have a lot more respect for the SEO skills of people like Aaron, who analizes Google's algorithms without Google's help and who writes a book about it in such a manner that people can actually use his information to get better results in the serps.

If you give Matt Cutts the blueprints for a house, next thing will be that people start calling him an architect.

[vangogh]

He is widely read in the seo community and when he talks people do take notice. I'm not saying if he weren't working for Google those same people would still listen. And I'm not saying he knows more about seo than most.

But when he talks people do listen to what he has to say if only in the hopes that he's telling us all something about Google.

Maybe I shouldn't have said he influences seo thought. I know I don't change my approach to seo because of things Matt says. But I understand why Rand added him to a list of people he thinks are leaders in the seo community. A lot of people in the community do read Matt Cutts' blog and many people do react to the things he says.

[Gurpartap]

These SEO rankings just don't include how well they do Optimize their sites for Search Engine, which there are several able to do. There are lots other factors, countables might be putting whole life on money risk, involving self's body into this on large scale, and even whole mind dipped into.

[TangoUK]

THE Legends of the industry are

Danny Sullivan and Bruce Clay

But there are lots of great pros out there making massive contributions including Aaron Wall, Rand Fishkin, Dan Thies, and Jim Boykin.