January 6th, 2012 
Lyena Solomon 2012 Predictions
@bryanphelps: Goog continues updates to promote big brands.
@ashbuckles: Anchor text links become considerable less important in 2012.
@Matt_Siltala: @ashbuckles I don’t think they become less important, but I think people need to think of it more in terms of natural anchor text. Local and Google+ will be integrated more and more … just watch.
@jasonmun: I reckon branding and social will be key.
@ashbuckles: I think as G+ matures, we see more author authority factors in ranking. The G+ noise ratio is so low compared to Twitter & Facebook that traffic can be incredible in some industries.
@lyena: I think G+ adoption will go slower than anticipated. Businesses are struggling to keep up with Facebook & Twitter
@kmullett: This is a link to the G+ SEO article: http://t.co/HyGAO5Dp. BTW, The Google+ team have already gone on record in many instances about the upcoming tie-ins. Just takes time.
@ashbuckles: I think Google will continue to deliver crazy results for mobile users in 2012. Great mobile results won’t happen this year. Google will try to anticipate location, etc. and miss the mark when delivering results. They’re way behind.
@lookadoo:: More focus on quality content in multiple formats – txt, video, PDF, social.
@OptimizePrime: I bet 2012 will be the year of natural language. Good SEO = organized mess (especially anchor text & synonyms in content)
@kmullett: I think schema will become very important, especially for CTR (better snippets) but will be measured signal at first. I speculate that because Google has to serve quality and there just are not enough CMS’s/sites with it yet.
@ashbuckles: I think schema requires integrated changes that Google can’t force throughout the web in a short period of time.
@bryanphelps: 2012 SEO Prediction: @aaronwall goes to DC as expert witness to bring Google down.
@dan_patterson: I think more and more people are just going to overlook the fundamentals for something ‘shiny’
@kmullett: Based on requests for webinars/seminars and speaking, SM is still the shiniest rock on the block.
@Matt_Siltala: What do you think the biggest changes you are going to be, when it comes to your marketing efforts in 2012?
@garyjmag: It looks like Video is going to become a bigger part of our marketing efforts this year.
@kmullett: We are going to continue to push clients towards action, ROI, tangible value scoring instead of positions.
@lyena: I completely agree with you. Esp. because ranking is already inconsistent with localization & personalization.
@kmullett: Yeah, like a client who’s closing a lot off SEO, and yet is beefed because 2 of the 10 terms they want fluctuate.
@lyena: There will be more focus on optimization & conversion, not just traffic. Usability too and simpler code. I also think that Google will continue taking data from us and PPC will become more important for SEO testing.
@shuey03: I think in 2012 you are going to see a lot more people investing in seo tools to help streamline their efforts.
@ashbuckles: Strategy in 2012 includes more diversification of traffic generators. Relying on 1 primary source of traffic is risky.
@Matt_Siltala: all great answers….agree especially on the tools and focusing on doing something with all that social traffic.
@SmartBoyDesigns: @lookadoo do you find that focusing that time spent on multiple formats would be better spent on more content in one format?
@lookadoo: No, believe universal results are huge & you can enter competitive SERP spaces with various formats. Approach is to have subject matter experts. Train & enable clients to help produce content & think SEO.
@ashbuckles: So what predictions do you disagree with?
@OptimizePrime: I HOPE to disagree with the prediction that (not provided) will rise to 25%
@ashbuckles: I think (not provided) is clearly moving above 25% this year.
@jasonmun: These guys reported 33% bit.ly/rZzMIu
@OptimizePrime: Agreed, picked @randfish’s figure of 25%+ from 1/2/12.
@ashbuckles: I agree Pinterest will take over the world in 2012 (@randfish) — mz.cm/u99AIf For some industries, Pinterest is the perfect traffic source right now.
@shuey03: I predict that SEOs will ruin pinterest by the end of 2012.
Pinterest:
@OptimizePrime: I agree about pinterest, it has great UI. I just hope they don’t switch to no follows once it gets big.
@RachaelGerson: Recently analyzed quality of Pinterest traffic. Higher bounce & lower conversion rates lower.
@ashbuckles: Not surprised. But it can be great for brand development, deep links, and referrals.
@RachaelGerson: The stats are logical. On plus side, seeing some great blog posts written w/ Pinterest images & links. In terms of Pinterest traffic, I think biggest thing is to watch for 404 landing pages. Why waste the traffic?
@ashbuckles: Images are great for some SERPs pages (universal results) and popular images get top placement. Pinterest can help get you visible for certain SERPs pages in certain industries.
@dan_patterson: On the pinterest topic, I think seos will flood it, nofollow will come, but seos won’t ruin it completely. I like pinterest.
@garyjmag: I’m really interested in seeing what happens in local search in 2012….i can see G+ & Places having some tight integration.
@lyena: That would be a challenge for local biz. G+ page is a definite advantage to Places. But who has time for that?
@scotttdodge: I just hope that they figure out how the heck they’re going to support Places. Soon.
@garyjmag: Places already has that shout box for biz status updates. I wonder what the usage is on that already.
@lyena: I call it “we are still alive” status. All my local customers use it. Not sure if it helps.
@@garyjmag: Have you ever worked with G-feet? altho slow, its the only time i felt like they’re providing support.Google Feet is their on-the-ground support team. Visit local biz, helps w/ Places. G+ profile for MN team: http://ow.ly/8jUK3 . They’re currently the middleman btwn my client & Places engineers trying to solve a phone number swap w/ competitor. I think their role is to help biz owners sign up and get set up on Places.
@jasonmun: What are your thoughts on the Paid vs Organic serp? Paid landscape seems be growing by the minute!
@RachaelGerson: I think Google’s blurring the lines to the point that non-industry ppl don’t always know what’s paid vs organic.
@scotttdodge: Not a fan of the insurgence of PPC in the SERP. I’ve never clicked an ad – manage alot, though. Could be my generation.
@ashbuckles: I rarely click paid ads but Google is growing paid revenues like crazy. New placements don’t surprise me.
@scotttdodge: True. I just think ads are so obvious. I’m the type to look at the url of an ad and type it in, just to save them $$ 
@jasonmun: Soon there will be no Organic listings above the fold!
@davidmalmborg: What about the evolution of SEO? No, it’s not dying, but surely our job will be different by the end of 2012.
@jimboot: With 2 changes a day to the alg, the only thing constant in SEO is change
@lyena: I think, we will be policing content and try to kill syndication.
My favorite tweet of the chat
@Matt_Siltala: If you are good at what you do, don’t worry the basics have not changed and you will be just fine.
Shameless G+ Plugs
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