I know this is the third post on SEOMoz this week, but I’m so impressed with their new website that I guess I just can’t help it. As most of you know, SEOMoz is one of the most popular SEO related blogs online. And I think I know why. More importantly, I think that the secret to their success can also be the secret to your success, if you take their lesson to heart.

So, what’s the secret? Simple, SEOMoz are givers, not takers.

To start with, Rand time and again comes up with post that provides great value and benefit to the readers of SEOMoz. He really reveals methods and tactics that are of value. What’s more, many of these ideas and tactics aren’t easily found anywhere else online. Now, I imagine that more than once the thought crossed Rand’s mind that perhaps he shouldn’t share some idea or other - after all these are trade secrets. His competition can easily read his posts and apply his ideas to their company.

But share them he did, and I think the pay-off for him has been tremendous. His name is well known in the SEO community and I’m sure he has a better shot today of getting some big-paying clients than he did before he started his blog. In other words, Rand’s willingness to share some of his ideas has more than paid him back. Whatever he lost in competitive advantage he more than gained in branding, reputation and trust!

Further note how SEOMoz invites and respects your input. Rand spends a lot of time reading and answering peoples posts and comments. He offers valuable ideas and suggestions. Furthermore, SEOMoz has now offered more avenues for people to participate in their site. In other words, SEOmoz is not focused on just promoting Rand or SEOMoz. It’s more than that.

Again, this has benefited SEOMoz - people like visiting the site. They enjoy participating in it. That translates into increased traffic and visitor loyalty. What’s more, now there are more ideas floating around at SEOMoz, more food for thought, more conversation and discussion, etc. These new conversations and discussion provide SEOMoz with a greater sense of what is on their visitors minds - thus allowing them to better tailor their content to their site visitors. This, of course, allows them to create a better blog, which increases their popularity, etc.

So, what can you learn from all this? That a key ingredient to succeeding online is giving. Look for ways to help your clientele or those people who can help bring your clientele to your website. Try and find ways to make your site more inclusive and inviting. Think first about what other people can get out of your site. If you do that, you’ll have plenty of time later on to think about what how you can financially benefit from the increased traffic that you’ll be getting.

In short, give and they shall come.

Technorati Tags: SEOMoz.org, SEOMoz, Content, Content Creation

Content Content Creation SEOMoz SEOMoz.org