Link Builders, do you look at the world through a link building lens?
So I think that this video is MUCH more than just something link builders should watch. I tend to look at the world as one big link waiting to be acquired, but I think for anyone who tries to persuade people to take additional steps. In the video (below)
Seth Priebatsch of Scvngr illustrates how to change the way you look at the world. I ended up watching this video on a bus on my way to Valapraiso on my iPad using the TED app – sweet app.
Start at about 5 minutes. Much like I look at the world as one big link, Seth is looking at the world as one big game. Seeing the world through that lens he is able to show how everything from happy hour to farmville, to airline miles are all nothing more than a game. His thoughts on creating status are huge, until I saw this video I never thought of the black card as a status symbol, yet I’ve often wondered when I am going to get one :)
The way he looks at school as a game, and why we should consider moving from games you can lose vs. “leveling up” are interesting.
So how does this help you in link building? I think he illustrates the concept of looking at the world through a lens, everything he sees is a game. You and I see a valedictorian, he just sees another status that people are working towards.
When I walk home, every stimulus I see is a possible link – while I have discussed at length about my favorite example “being pet friendly to build links.” Let me give you another example – I had a friend who was recently mugged – as he was driven around in a police car I thought, damn…if he had a tool like lookout he might be able to find the jerks who took his phone. When then led me down this path of using twitter search to find people talking about losing their phones, which then led to some ideas for microsites for our client.
It wasn’t that I was being an opportunist, its that I can’t help but look at the world this way. I try to shove in as much stimulus as possible in a given day, all of which serve as sparks. Many of those sparks will never be used, but once in a while they are gems, so my question to you, where are your link building sparks? how to you provide stimulus every day to expose you to new ideas?
Here’s one of my new tips:
Just today I decided to start following data scientists, which was recommended by Will Critchlow at the Distilled conference. The reason is simple why is that they will see data in a different way then I do and if I can learn to look at data in a different way then I currently do, it will help me build links for my client.
Here’s another one:
We all read a LOT of blogs to stay on top of the space, but bookmarking great posts as inspiration, is critical…every time I get stuck, I go and open up in new tabs all of my inspiration posts (the ones that get me looking at the world differently) and inevitably, I start coming up with new ideas.
Sparking new linking ideas is about much more than following “link builders” on twitter, sometimes you gotta go follow some mommy bloggers, some tech geeks, but just make sure they are people who have a zest for their topic.
Posted: 03.27.11
John:
Wil -
Great post and I agree that our perception of the world changes how we interact with it. I view the world through a relationship-lens, meaning I seek to build meaningul relationships, even if only for a 5 minute conversation, with people that I meet. This serves me well in life, I think.
I also agree with your inspirational posts point, as I do the same thing. We need others in our lives who help us to think outside the box, which is part of why I love SEO. Lots of creative and skilled people who think in different ways than I who help shape my view of the world and what is possible.
I have some custom searches set up on Twitter to spark linkbuilding ideas for my in-house client, which help me to realize where a need exists and makes me think creatively about how to meet that need in a way that will also get me links.
Jason:
Good post…after the linkbuilding conference in NLO last Friday I find myself weighing every interesting fact I hear as to whether or not it could be a successful infographic ;-)
Joel:
Really interesting take on it, Wil. In a similar way I know a super talented photographer who can’t help but see the world through the lens of a camera – can’t shut it off. I think it takes a lot of time and conscious effort to get to the point where you can see the world from a link lens and I like your ideas regarding following less conventional leads.
Jey Pandian:
This one is fun. I saw that video a few years ago. Here are others like it that you might also like (by Jane Mcdonigal (epic win) & Clay Shirky (Cognitive Surplus & Institutions vs Collaboration):
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE1DuBesGYM
2. http://www.ted.com/talks/clay_shirky_on_institutions_versus_collaboration.html
3. http://www.ted.com/talks/clay_shirky_how_cognitive_surplus_will_change_the_world.html
This article struck a chime with me. Although I’m an SEO, whenever I sit in a busy place like an airport or in the bistro of my company or an aquarium, I can’t help but observe user pathways and compare it to a website.
The other day, I sat in an airport and I couldn’t help but notice how people looked like ants scurrying everywhere. I noticed that people tend to walk either towards an open space or follow everyone else. I also noticed that if there were obstructions in a user path then they would veer immediately to the side of it. In Seth’s video, it spoke about gaming dynamics. I saw that trash cans that were placed next to leisure spots or food spots (like outside the restaurant) were the ones that were utilized the most as opposed to putting them in an open space.
Then in an aquarium, I saw fish exhibiting the same behavior. They idle if there’s a lot of open space but for the most part follow other fish or move through predefined pathways. If there’s a bowl then they pick away at it (in search of food?). Also seeing gaming dynamics at play here.