Brief Overview & Article Motivation:

It’s no surprise that user generated content (UGC) sites are popping up all over the place within many different Online markets and sub-cultures. Currently we are even beginning to see some SEO/SEM communities jump on the UGC bandwagon, hoping to leverage the power it offers within their own reader communities.

Two such sites that come to mind right away are Rand’s UGC site YOUmoz (launched early Feb. 2007) and Danny’s UGC site Sphinn (launched early July 2007).

Normally, I would comment here on the current debate we are seeing over the launch of Sphinn, however this post is more about what UGC has to offer SEO/SEM site publishers and what those publishers can expect to gain and/or lose from creating a site section for their readers to contribute to.

I became motivated to write this based on my own experiences using UGC sites like YOUmoz and Sphinn and I wanted a chance to hear first hand from the founders what they thought and what others could potentially expect. I originally planned on making this a group interview with 5 influential members of the marketing community, but unfortunately I couldn’t get their answers back in time or they weren’t available to answer the questions at all (sucks, but life goes on).

I am pleased to announce though, that Rand Fishkin of SEOmoz was kind enough to share his insights about UGC and new social SEO communities, so for now this will be a one-on-one rather than group style interview. If Danny and the others I asked to contribute end up sending me their answers, I will post them on a completely new page dedicated to them (since Rand got his own page, I might as well offer it to the rest of you guys, hint hint).

Rand has successfully launched and managed YOUmoz, SEOmoz’s user generated content section, for nearly 6 months. Check out the interview below to see what he thinks about UGC and social SEO communities and the effects they have on our industry as a whole.

Rand Fishkin, SEOmoz Founder, Answers 10 Questions About UGC & Social SEO:

What, in your opinion, has led to the emerging trend of user generated content and it’s appeal to both search engines and readers?

UGC had a home on the web ever since it began - in the form of forum posts and usenet discussions, etc. The appeal to search engines comes from the massive diversity of content (and targeting of the long tail) as well as an inherent draw of links - people who are participators on the web are likely to link to the contributions they make, thus empowering the UGC portals.

What place, if any, does user generated content have within the SEO world today?

It occupies the same high position it always has - the content is free for the publisher to create (once the community is large enough), the targeting hits lots of keyword terms, particularly in the long tail and, as I noted above, it attracts natural links from many sources. It remains an SEO goldmine, and I suspect that trend will only continue over time.

What value do user generated SEO topic communities have for industry professionals?

I think there’s a great opportunity to learn a lot about the dynamics of the industry at the major SEO forums. I sometimes lament the lack of true insight at those portals - there’s a lot of misinformation that floats around them and it can be tough to sort the wheat from the chaffe.

What value do these SEO topic communities have for non-industry professionals or novice readers?

It’s a chance to at least get started in the industry - find some folks you respect and learn from them. You can also post lots of questions, but don’t always expect to get a straight answer - you need to think very critically and judge the information you receive carefully.

How popular do you think these types of niche social communities will become in the future?

In SEO specifically? Probably the same as they have been for the last few years - communities will come and go, rise and fall, and a few will remain relevant and valuable over the long haul.

Do you see user generated SEO topic sites like YOUMoz and Sphinn replacing traditional discussion forums like SEW and SERoundtable?

Potentially… But neither of those are true replacements for a community-style discussion forum.

What are some of the ways these sites can reach out to more users and gain additional exposure beyond already having a reader community established?

If you can build a small group of very passionate users and encourage them to contribute frequently, you can build up a very good community that will attract others. Having just 10-15 people who are constantly adding new, valuable material can spark something exciting.

Do you expect to see user generated SEO topic video and streaming media sites emerge any time soon?

I expect to see someone try it, but I think the subject matter is too niche to make it valuable.

What benefits could an owner of one of these sites expect to see by launching one in their own reader community?

I assume you mean video/streaming media? As I noted above, I don’t feel that you could attract great value with it.

What topics are the most interesting for you to read on user generated SEO sites, or which ones would you like to see more articles about?

I love to read about spam, penalties, black hat tactics and anything that gives a deeper look into how the engines deal with manipulative practices.

YOUmoz User Generated Content:

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out YOUmoz over at SEOmoz.org. It’s a great place to gain exposure in the blogosphere and among other industry professionals. Rand and the Superhuman SEOmoz Staff (SSS) have done a wonderful job of keeping the content clean and making sure users have all the nifty little tools in place to help them write and create informative, attractive looking posts.

Conclusion & Final Thoughts:

I am really excited to start using more UGC and social SEO communities now that we have some solid choices from top-notch search marketers. It already feels like many hours throughout my days are spent watching for new posts on YOUmoz or scouting the front page of Sphinn. By the way, I didn’t ask Rand to share too much about Sphinn in the interview since he already wrote about it. To see Rand’s thoughts on Sphinn specifically, visit his post … Sphinn - The Social News Site Every Search Marketer Should Be Using.

To Rand: I wanted to personally thank you for the interview and all the insights you have shared with our industry over the years. I have learned so much from you and others by just being a part of this wonderful world of search marketing!

To the readers: Thanks for taking the time to read this interview. We will try to bring you more unique interviews like it in the future.