Grab your popcorn. There’s a new film that explores the history of SEO from the mid-1990s to the present day.
Wait. A movie about SEO?
Yes, indeed. It might sound unusual at first, but anyone familiar with the industry over the past two decades knows there are some intriguing stories to share.
That’s the goal John Lincoln, CEO of Ignite Visibility, pursued. He started working on “SEO: The Movie” last October, interviewing several industry veterans, including Danny Sullivan and Barry Schwartz, about various topics such as:
– The early days of SEO and the significant influence of affiliate marketers on the industry.
– The impact of the Google Toolbar on SEO due to its PageRank display and how it sparked a market for buying and selling links.
– The monthly “Google dance,” when SEOs would discover if the latest Google rankings update affected them positively or negatively.
Lincoln also serves as the narrator, taking viewers through topics up to recent developments like Google’s Panda and Penguin algorithm updates.
A couple of stories particularly caught my attention: Rae Hoffman (aka Sugarrae) shared how her first affiliate marketing commission check exceeded her then-husband’s annual salary, and Rand Fishkin of Moz discussed the company’s early financial challenges and how attending two conferences steered them toward profitability. A section is also devoted to the significant influence of former Googler Matt Cutts on the SEO industry, from his role as “GoogleGuy” on forums to his recent career shift to the US Digital Service.
I’m not a movie critic by any means, but others analyzing the film might note its US-centric view and the omission of many industry pioneers from the interviews. Eric Ward, a link-building pioneer, even humorously complained about not being interviewed, and this is featured during the end credits.
The reality is, capturing the full history of SEO in about 40 minutes is unfeasible. As Lincoln mentioned in an email, his movie intentionally focuses on key events from SEO’s early days to recent times.
Nonetheless, both industry veterans and newcomers are likely to find it enjoyable. I did, and it left me hoping for a longer version featuring more SEO leaders, both past and present, sharing stories about the industry’s beginnings and growth.
To watch “SEO: The Movie,” the film is available below.
