Just a little bit of a rant and a sprinkling of common sense maybe. Every industry needs a champion and in the world of SEO is no exception. But what makes someone a champion of any given industry.

Is it the proactive person who profits little but aims to change the perception of the industry to the outside world? Or is it the entrepreneur who makes a success of their business venture and lays it solely at the feet of being good at doing SEO and making it work?

Both are champions in their own way of course but neither becomes a champion of the industry without one major factor. Peer Recognition.

The industry we work in is young, by any standards, and with that youth there is obviously an opportunity for people to step forward and fill the role we refer to as “champion”. The champion of the cause (in this case – SEO)  will be someone who represents all the aspects that our industry aims to achieve, adhere to and reflect in the purest form.

It is the face that the industry wishes to be associated with, the voice that speaks for the people who work within its parameters and the sentiment that, in the vast majority,  reflects a consensus among their peers of what we should be and what we strive for.

Does SEO have a champion? I believe it does, it has many, but there are also those that will claim that title with little or no real substance behind the claim and herein lies the danger. Without peer recognition you are never a champion.  Simply saying it does not make it so (no matter how loud you shout about it!)

I can claim to be a champion of SEO, the world, the universe, thought and time itself…. This self substantiated claim probably makes me look like a total idiot to my peers though, and everybody else.  I may as well to be a Champion of Bread Sticks. But some people out there read it once and believe it… wise up.

So please – if you meet someone and they have to tell you that they are the best, greatest, top dog or champion of any particular thing. Use your common sense. Ask around, do some Google searches. Research the claim a little.  You may find out very quickly that are they are is a champion… in their own dreams… and be especially wary if they give you a naff DVD with “Champion of SEO” on the cover.

Champion of any cause are the people who never mention it, because they don’t need to, but the rest of us know your names.