The Problem with SEO: Mistaking Causation for Correlation

One mistake that many SEO workers (as well as the non-technical bosses they often report to) frequently make is to confuse causation with correlation. We see an increase in SERPs rankings and assume that our activities are paying off, or we see a decrease in natural search performance and decry the “penalties” that have unfairly hit our sites. Unfortunately, jumping to these conclusions is incredibly short-sighted, as it’s difficult to prove true causation between SEO campaigns and search results rankings.

Full article: http://www.searchenginejournal.com/the-problem-with-seo-m...

Tweets

@RavenSarahM » 02 Jul '12, 10pm
Learning the difference makes a world of difference. The Problem with SEO: Mistaking Correlation for Causation [link]
@seotweetz » 28 Jun '12, 6pm
RT @nachocomi: “@natzir9: The Problem with SEO: Mistaking Correlation for Causation [link] #SEO”
@nachocomi » 28 Jun '12, 6pm
“@natzir9: The Problem with SEO: Mistaking Correlation for Causation [link] #SEO”
@seotweetz » 28 Jun '12, 5pm
RT @Benjamin_Linden: The Problem with #SEO: Mistaking Correlation for Causation by @SujanPatel. @seotweetz [link] via @sejournal
@Benjamin_Linden » 28 Jun '12, 5pm
The Problem with #SEO: Mistaking Correlation for Causation by @SujanPatel. @seotweetz [link] via @sejournal
@blisete » 28 Jun '12, 4pm
El problema de la optimización para motores de búsqueda (SEO): confundir relación con causa (inglés). [link] via @sejournal.
@PaulwRice » 27 Jun '12, 5pm
Why SEO is a full time job - The Problem with SEO: Mistaking Correlation for Causation [link]
@seotweetz » 27 Jun '12, 2pm
RT @LinksiteNet: The Problem with #SEO: Mistaking Causation for Correlation by @SujanPatel [link] via @sejournal
@seotweetz » 27 Jun '12, 2pm
RT @GiseleNMendez: The problem with #SEO: Mistaking causation for correlation » [link] by @SujanPatel
@seotweetz » 27 Jun '12, 1pm
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@marcosjtbr » 27 Jun '12, 1pm
The Problem with SEO: Mistaking Causation for Correlation | [link] | by @SujanPatel via @sejournal #seo #social #metrics
@seotweetz » 27 Jun '12, 11am
RT @nlakeland: Great post from @sejournal about mistaking causation and correlation in #seo [link] Lots of things to measure! #marketing
@nlakeland » 27 Jun '12, 11am
Great post from @sejournal about mistaking causation and correlation in #seo [link] Lots of things to measure! #marketing
@tyseo » 27 Jun '12, 10am
cause et corrélation : (re)-précisions utiles [link]
@seotweetz » 27 Jun '12, 10am
RT @neseouk: The Problem with #SEO - Mistaking Causation for Correlation [link] via @sejournal
@rheaSEO » 27 Jun '12, 8am
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@seotweetz » 27 Jun '12, 7am
RT @MontseCano: The Problem with #SEO: Mistaking Causation for Correlation by @SujanPatel [link] via @sejournal
@garyreid » 27 Jun '12, 7am
RT @mattuk: The Problem with SEO: Mistaking Causation for Correlation - [link]
@PopsharedSearch » 27 Jun '12, 6am
The Problem with SEO: Mistaking Causation for Correlation (Searchenginejournal - 225 retweets) [link]
@SEOAUCOM » 27 Jun '12, 6am
GoogleSEO: One mistake that many SEO workers (as well as the non-technical bosses they often report to) fre... [link] #SEO
@abramov_a_m » 27 Jun '12, 4am
The Problem with SEO: Mistaking Causation for Correlation by @SujanPatel [link] с помощью @sejournal
@rainmanonline » 27 Jun '12, 4am
[link] The Problem with SEO: Mistaking Causation for Correlation: One mistake that many SEO worker... [link]
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seo updates The Problem with SEO: Mistaking Causation for Correlation [link] [link]
@Connan_BG » 27 Jun '12, 3am
The Problem with SEO: Mistaking Causation for Correlation: One mistake that many SEO workers (as well as the non... [link]
@TopSEOranking » 27 Jun '12, 3am
The Problem with SEO: Mistaking Causation for Correlation: Changes in the Search Engine Algorithms – The search ... [link]
@doorwayseo » 27 Jun '12, 3am
#SEO Info : The Problem with SEO: Mistaking Causation for Correlation [link]
@seo_depp » 27 Jun '12, 1am
rt @sujanpatel2012The Problem with #SEO: Mistaking Causation for Correlation [link] [link]
@seotweetz » 27 Jun '12, 12am
RT @Bruce_Clay_AU: The Problem with SEO: Mistaking Causation for Correlation by @SujanPatel [link] #SEO
@JoeRega » 26 Jun '12, 11pm
The great Causation vs. Correlation debate rages on: [link] by @sujanpatel via @sejournal
@neoconsulting » 26 Jun '12, 10pm
Conoce cómo distinguir que la mejora de tus resultados en SEO son realmente producto de tu esfuerzo [link]
@JonHyne » 26 Jun '12, 10pm
RT @saraboargs: The Problem with SEO: Mistaking Causation for Correlation [link] #SEO
@InsprdVisn » 26 Jun '12, 6pm
RT @KairayMedia The Problem with SEO: Mistaking Causation for Correlation [link] #sm #li
@seotweetz » 26 Jun '12, 6pm
RT @stevequezada: The Problem with #SEO: Mistaking Causation for Correlation [link] by @SujanPatel
@RightHatSEO » 26 Jun '12, 4pm
"...directly attributing SERPs results to your SEO activities is nearly impossible" [link] Technically #SEO is untrackable?
@seotweetz » 26 Jun '12, 4pm
RT @RightHatSEO: The Problem with #SEO: Mistaking Causation for Correlation [link] Thx @gfiorelli1
@RightHatSEO » 26 Jun '12, 4pm
The Problem with #SEO: Mistaking Causation for Correlation [link] Thx @gfiorelli1
@adriwall » 26 Jun '12, 4pm
RT @tribaltalk: The Problem with #SEO: Mistaking Causation for Correlation [link]
@seotweetz » 26 Jun '12, 4pm
RT @XavierYelmo: "The Problem with #SEO: Mistaking Causation for Correlation" | @sejournal [link]
@cjland » 26 Jun '12, 4pm
Great article on SEO. (The Problem with SEO: Mistaking Causation for Correlation) [link]
@badams » 26 Jun '12, 4pm
He meant to say 'Mistaking Correlation for Causation' but otherwise spot on: [link] by @SujanPatel
@seotweetz » 26 Jun '12, 4pm
RT @trle: The Problem with SEO: Mistaking Causation for Correlation by @SujanPatel [link] via @sejournal #SEO
@roosvanvugt » 26 Jun '12, 4pm
Soms lijkt het net werk... The Problem with SEO: Mistaking Causation for Correlation [link]
@RonSansone » 26 Jun '12, 4pm
It's sad that @sejournal has to explain Causation vs Correlation to SEOs. [link] @SujanPatel #SEO #Statistics101
@aaranged » 26 Jun '12, 3pm
Hallelujah > The Problem with SEO: Mistaking Causation for Correlation - [link] @sujanpatel
@HiralRana_SEO » 26 Jun '12, 3pm
The Problem with SEO: Mistaking Causation for Correlation - So you just saw a big jump in your natural search resul... [link]
@SEOTweetsMe » 26 Jun '12, 3pm
The Problem with SEO: Mistaking Causation for Correlation | Search Engine Journal [link] (via @NickStamoulis)
@simonandre » 26 Jun '12, 3pm
The Problem with SEO: Mistaking Causation for Correlation [link] de @sejournal // Si seulement certains fr pouvaient lire ça..
@SEOTakeaways » 26 Jun '12, 3pm
RT @gfiorelli1: "@sejournal: The Problem with SEO: Mistaking Causation for Correlation [link]"
@blaysworld » 26 Jun '12, 3pm
Mangiare il gelato ti farà annegare? [link] L'importante differenza per un #SEO tra causalità e correlazione
@seotweetz » 26 Jun '12, 2pm
RT @JavierArronis: The Problem with SEO: Mistaking Causation for Correlation by @SujanPatel [link] vía @sejournal #seo