During the past few months, I've received more than a few emails asking me about Mr. Martinez's position on the SEOmoz blog. At the SES conference in San Jose, a small handful asked the same question - here's the response I gave them:
Michael's views and opinions are not mainstream. They don't always have the kind of logic that's easy for many of us to follow (myself included). Michael's also not the kind of person to let a disagreement stand - his ceasless attempts to refute arguments and prove the rightness of his ways sometimes frustrates and often annoys. However, Michael...
- Keeps us Honest
By questioning the theories about search, technology & the web that we hold in high esteem, Michael forces us to back up our beliefs with logic & examples - I haven't changed my mind on things like the importance of links or the value of Firefox, but that doesn't mean the excercise itself isn't valuable. - Introduces Alternate Points of View
The worst disservice we can do in our professional developments is to limit our exposure to those viewpoints we disagree with. This happens all the time in the field of geopolitics, and I believe it damages our ability to think beyond our own interests and small-minded beliefs. Obviously, Michael's viewpoint isn't helping staunch liberals see the value in pieces of conservative economic policy, but even on a small scale, it's worthwhile. - Brings in Links
Yes, it's selfish, but Michael's posts do attract readership, clickthroughs and links. This one on links, specifically, has 30+ unique links to it.
I know that many folks in the search community don't share my belief that Michael's contributions are valuable, but I'd ask you to re-consider. I'd also ask you to question whether SEOmoz and the search world in general would be better off with dissonant viewpoints.
Please note that while I'd love to get feedback on this post and on your attitudes, I would ask that you remain as civil and positive as possible. Thanks!
Sometimes the greatest value is in the views that are different, rather than supporting or in agreement. In an industry that is filled with 256 shades of gray, like life, there is rarely a right and wrong, just a different prespective... the great thing is that that different perspective often makes us think about things in a different light.
Even if you end up with the same conclusions you had before on a topic, just like arriving at the same destination via a different route, your journey has changed. Better, worse.... does it really matter, either way your knowledge has grown.
Sometimes we don't want to think. That may become the greatest downfall of the web. We are really getting to the point of wanting everything bite sized, easily digestable in a paragraph, or two. This probably extends beyond the web, but it is certainly hightened online. Most of the time we want a conclusion, we want to know how to get from A to Z, not left hanging in between, and if we can skip B to Y, all the better, but heavens, don't leave us at M to find our way!
Have I understood all of Michael's posts? No. But in some ways, I'm not sure I could. In thinking about Michael's posts, many seem to encapsulate a greater essence and theory, rather than a concrete substance.
Prime example, and recency.... I found the whole topic of link paths to be fascinating, making me think about the bigger, macro view of things.... of course macro is less of a 10 step plan to implement this right now type thinking. It reminded me of a course in college that dealt with discourse theory (essentially an analysis of writing and conversation including the meaning of words, positioning, selection, theme.... more things than you can shake a stick at) which to this day was probably one of the most challenging courses I have ever taken. I probably walked away from that course and have retained about 10% of the teaching and value... yet it that 10% has been incredibly profound and probably impacts the way I have viewed every conversation and written word since.
So perhaps, just perhaps, Rand, you've identified the true value in Michael's posts, and realize the value of the journey.
I always read and enjoy Michael's posts -- on the LED Digest, too. His posts make me think, and that's probably the definition of good writing.
Well done, Michael. And well done everyone blogging at SEOmoz. Great stuff.
This entry has inspired me to post a Michael Martinez - BEST QUOTES EVER! roundup. Many of these choice quotes came from the train wreck of a discussion that followed my 20 questions to ask a web developer entry.
On me and my dislike of notepad as a web development tool:I use Wordpad and tables all the time. You could probably learn a thing or two about just how useful such skills still prove to be.
On SEOmoz's cross-browser compliance:Keep in mind that SEOMoz forces people to use FireFox, which is not a good thing.
On CSS: ..tables are far more flexible and easy to work with than table-bashers make them out to be. My partner uses CSS all day long, probably more than most designers, and she also says you can pry her tables from her cold, dead fingers.
On me and my dislike of table driven design: Just because you don't know how to use [tables] efficiently doesn't mean that other people don't.
On CSS being faster than traditional HTML: All the nonsense that anti-table articles load up on with respect to "faster-this, smaller-that" is just B.S.
On Presentation on using CSS over Tables article: It's just fluff and nonsense propaganda building on straw men.
On Firefox vs IE: Up until the most recent automated Microsoft Windows Update download, this machine was pretty stable. Now, seems like every other time I click on a Web page Internet Explorer crashes. Yes, I have FireFox installed. I'll be switching to it. I hate FireFox (horribly designed software).
On SEObook.com's 101 ways to get links: I can build rankings for any site. I don't need "101 ways to get links".
SEOs have blinded themselves with a lot of myths about the power of linkage.(Perhaps he's still cranky about Aaron's post: Michael Martinez - Being remarkable by being annoying)
Come on, Matt, tell us how you really feel... ;)
I better weigh in here...
First I want to say that I don't read every post that Rand makes. Some of them are over my head or are on a topic that is off of my radar. But when I do read one it is usually very good and has high ROI on the time spent.
The same goes for Michael's posts. Some I don't read.. but the ones that I do read send me away with a different perspective - either changing my thinking or making me question if I am correct in my beliefs.
The bottom line is this... If you do the same things as everybody else you will get mediocre results. The real winners in the stock market, in war, and also in the search engines have some particular strategy that puts them in the winner's seat - and that strategy is usually different from what others are doing. So, I am all for a diversity of points of view.
All great discoveries are ventures that go where no one has gone before.
In closing, anybody reading here who thinks that they can develop one engaging post a week that will have all of the readers singing in agreement - and not be caught with their pants down because of lack of knowledge or preparation should email Rand right away and volunteer to be a blogger. I don't post on 75% of the subjects that come to my mind because I am chicken to stick my neck out in front of the who's who in SEO that reads this blog.
I agree with you here. When I first started working for SEOmoz, Rand kept urging me to write blog posts. I was too afraid to write anything because I figured that anything I'd write would be dismissed as stupidly basic or such common knowledge that it shouldn't be worth writing about.
I've since shifted gears and blog about things that interest me (humor, obviously) and things that I'm learning about, and so far it's been nicely received.
I either read the first paragraph of his posts and then give up, or else I usually just keep skimming if I see his icon next to a post.
I don't really see Michael as an alternate viewpoint, but rather as a viewpoint that doesn't fit in. I find all the others posts on this blog to be very interesting, practical and useful, while to me Michael's posts are obscure and generally of no use. There are other SEO blogs/forums that you can go to get an alternate point of view, so why is it needed here?
Michael Martinez is a ---- --------- --- -- - ----- who ruined a perfectly good post on my blog today but yeah, I like him, he isn't boring. :)
perhaps, Michael is simply taking one for the team. does Rand keep him blogging to make his own posts seem shorter and opinions mainstream, by comparison? bloggers need their comical sidekicks just like movie stars :-)
Hello to all - this is my first post at Seomoz. I had to sign up just to say this.
I love Michael Martinez's posts. I can't believe people are complaining that they are too long. If they are too long, just stop reading. I find them full of useful information.
I like to read a lot of differing opinions. That's the only way I can form my own.
I love Michael's posts. I find I learn SO many useful things and even though some of his posts are longer than other bloggers they are so full of great things that I don't even notice and wouldn't mind some of them to be a little longer ;)
I always enjoy reading what Michael Martinez has to say on the SEOMoz Blog and I think that he is extremely smart and the fact that he is so brutally honest is what makes him so real and entertaining.
Many of Michael's posts have been very informing and the fact that he shares (sooo much) is something we should be thankful for. I respect everyone's opinion and also respect that Michael make you back up what you say! Anyway... I am a huge Michael Martinez fan and would even pay him for consulting because he is so knowledgeable and objective. I guess my point is if you don't like what someone says then you don't have to read it!
I enjoy Michael's posts - looking forward to learning more about linkpaths in the next installment!
I mean that metaphor about the rain drops - that's quality!
Michael is *usually* okay. He posts a lot at High Rankings also. About 3 weeks out of the month I often even agree with him. But then there's that one week each month where he's PMS'ing and you better watch out! :)
I couldn't have stated that any better myself Jill! :)
I gave up reading your blog about the same time i had to start wading through Michaels posts. I am sure he post valuable information if you have the time to pick out the 4 lines of information surrounded by all the other 600 lines if text. 80/20 If he could just consolidate the info into a bitesize format i am sure it would make better reading
Are we blogging for blogging's sake?
No doubt, good SEO can be about originality and marketing. Marketing is spin and spin is perception. What was the point of that post? In my mental algorithm: Was it good or bad? Will it help me as an SEO? Will it help me limit my blog visits? Did it make me think? Did it color my opinion of the author? Did it influence my values?
Question authority. Question your SEO beliefs. Question your clients. Question your results. Question the algorithms. Question Matt. Question your abilities. Question your techniques. Question other's techniques. Question motives. Question yourself. It all makes you better.
Of course Michael's posts are valuable! Do I always agree with what he says? No. Is he a bit long-winded at times? Yes. Is his site ugly? Of course (and he admits it). Does he remind me of an old coot who is set in his ways? Sometimes. (LOL). But I highly respect Michael and his viewpoints, whether or not I always agree with them. SEO is not a clearly-defined set of rules that we can all agree on. If it were, there would be no need for discussion. His viewpoint is needed. So is mine, and yours.
Donna - agreed. If you ever stopped blogging about search, I don't know what I'd do... probably cry (but in a manly way).
I enjoy reading Michael's posts (okay-I don't read all of them)- or (I don't get through all of them).
Michael posts on an area that I focus on and it keeps me more up to date and on my toes. Similar to what you referenced, Rand - it keeps one honest.
That is the best way to continue to learn and advance. Agree with EGOL also, contrarian thinking is highly valuable.
Keep it up.
Dave
Contrarian thinking is often the root of enormous advantage.
You have to have people like Michael, or blogs can simply get dull (not on seomoz though, of course).
Thanks for keepin' it real Michael!!
In all seriousness, I agree with Rand that we need to hear other's perspectives - even if offensive. I think it would be a better world if the term 'Politically Correct' were never invented!
Staying within this topic, I should post a blog titled, "Why is Rebecca an SEOmoz Blogger?", with the answer being "Because Rand Makes Me."
Just kidding. I like blogging. I still have a lot to learn about the industry, so I do appreciate reading blogs from different perspectives, though I do think that Michael's posts tend to be a bit long-winded. His posts, however, tend to be more relevant than mine, which often lean more towards humor and less towards profound SEO tactics. Hopefully my future posts will be more Randtastic the more I learn about SEO.
I hope this doesn't mean the humor will go away!
No way, man!
Man, what a mean boss you have. ;)
He's so horrible. Who do you think has the task of making sure his yellow Pumas are spotless before SES conferences? ;)
I look forward to your posts. Until the guys start posting more interesting pictures and videos, I'll rely on your writings for some excitement.
I'm also hoping for an introdction to your BFF
I think it's BS Rand that you have to come up here and defend your blog after all you have done for the Search community. Frankly, it pisses me off. It's shameful that people have put you in a position where you feel you need to defend your choices and actions on YOUR blog.
Off with their heads!
I value a lot of what Michael has to say, the problem is that his posts are very hard to read. The information and opinions are great, but they're very long-winded and hard to follow. He usually loses my attention after the first paragraph.
Every organization needs someone who's good at playing "Devil's Advocate", just so that every perspective is represented. My argument is that if someone honestly believes that the contrary point of view must be correct solely by virtue of being contrary, then you have a major issue.
That being said, I think Michael frequently posts things he doesn't necessarily believe just as linkbait. :P
Michael writes long-winded posts? I hadn’t noticed. Perhaps this is because he stays on topic, is relevant, and actually bothers to defend his arguments. The last time I checked this was not long-windedness. It was good writing.
It is not like Michael is writing journal articles with footnotes and bibliographies. And while I dare to say that there are bloggers who should be required to do so before being allowed to press the send button, Michael is not among them.
Woe to the sound-bite generation that shudders at anything longer than a text message.
Hmmm...
Me thinks I fell victim to another of Rand's viral/link bait tests. I don't know Rand. Something just doesn't feel right about your original post. I cannot imaging you receive that many post complaining about Michael when the quality of his writing surpasses the average.
One of the problems with the Internet, blogosphere and SEO industry in particular is that it can be an echo chamber a large percentage of the time. It does no one any good to go to blogs everyday and read the same thing that is on everyone elses blog. This happens almost everyday. Anything that help alleviates that I'm all for.
Example, Rand the other day you ranked Search Engine Watch and SEO Roundtable the top 2 serach engine blogs out there. The problem is that neither one is original. Barry mostly reports popular forum topics. SEW reports news from other people's sites and blogs. And Barry posts on SEW the same things he posts on his site.
One of the reasons I like SEOMoz is because it is unique. So when I go to SEW or SEO Roundtable and read about Rand's latest link bait, I can proudly say I have already read that. Keep it up guys!
I never read michael's posts. But that is because I have difficulty stomaching more than 3-5 meaningful sentences at a time when not accompanied by otherwise useless humor.
I like Michael, He has strong personal preferences and that's fine with me. It keeps things interesting.