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SEMrush and Traffic Think Tank Join Forces
In a significant move, SEMrush, the premier platform for managing online visibility, has acquired Traffic Think Tank, a highly-regarded community for SEO professionals. Established in 2017 by renowned digital marketing specialists Matthew Howells-Barby, Ian Howells, and Nick Eubanks, Traffic Think Tank swiftly gained worldwide recognition for its invaluable insights and resources for SEO enthusiasts.
In this article, we will explore Traffic Think Tank’s journey, the reasons behind its sale to SEMrush, and Howells-Barby’s expert advice for SEO professionals.
The Early Days of Traffic Think Tank
Traffic Think Tank aimed to establish a community where SEO professionals could share their successful strategies and provide mutual assistance within a closed-knit environment. During the beta version launch of Traffic Think Tank, the team allowed only 100 individuals to join the community, which aided in creating a robust and supportive community.
As Traffic Think Tank continued to evolve, it attracted some of the most respected figures in the SEO industry. As a result, community members have developed life-long relationships, established flourishing businesses, and even secured employment opportunities through the group, as noted by Howells-Barby.
The Importance of Close-knit Communities
According to Howells-Barby, close-knit communities that support each other and share knowledge are crucial for innovation. Traffic Think Tank was built on this principle, attracting some of the most honorable names in the SEO industry. The community aspect has been key to its success, with nearly 70% of all messages being shared via private DMs.
Describing Traffic Think Tank to Non-Members
The community takes its values and code of conduct seriously to ensure a diverse, comfortable, and safe environment. Traffic Think Tank aims to provide a safe space for members to openly discuss digital marketing and SEO topics. They have launched successful initiatives like Failure Therapy, where members share their failures and learn from one another.
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Reasons Behind the Sale to SEMrush
Traffic Think Tank had been operating as a side business for nearly six years, and its founders felt they needed help to achieve their growth goals. SEMrush, an early supporter of Traffic Think Tank, proposed the acquisition.
The alignment of goals and SEMrush’s commitment to preserving Traffic Think Tank’s culture and values made the acquisition an attractive option. SEMrush also plans to invest in new community initiatives and improve content production.
Why Sell Traffic Think Tank to SEMrush?
The founders of Traffic Think Tank, including Howells-Barby, Eubanks, and Howells, recognized that they could only fulfill part of their to-do list, which was a disservice to their community. They concluded that they needed outside assistance to expand their growth, and the possibility of bringing on additional partners was not a practical solution.
Fortunately, SEMrush, who had supported Traffic Think Tank from its early days, proposed an acquisition. Howells-Barby and his team were highly impressed with SEMrush’s dedication to maintaining the core culture and values of Traffic Think Tank.
What Trends Do You See Shaping the Destiny of SEO?
As per Howells-Barby, the basic principles and fundamentals of ranking content in search have remained relatively constant over the years. Nonetheless, he warns that the prevalence of AI-generated content is expected to increase, which could pose challenges for content creators.
Furthermore, Howells-Barby envisions the search landscape becoming more fragmented, with Bing garnering a greater market share and presenting diverse opportunities compared to Google. He emphasizes the significance of links in SEO and that they continue to be the most pivotal factor in determining authority and ranking.
Career Advice for Aspiring SEO Professionals
Howells-Barby advises aspiring SEO professionals to acquire foundational knowledge of SEO and build a solid network of trusted individuals. He suggests joining communities, whether paid or free, and reaching out to people in the industry at all levels of their careers for casual chats. Having a network of people who are invested in one’s career and can provide support and guidance is more valuable than any online course or job title.
The Future of SEO: Trends and Challenges
Howells-Barby believes that although AI-generated content will become more prevalent, it will only replace some content. He predicts search becoming more fragmented, with Bing gaining more market share and offering different opportunities than Google. Relevance and links will continue to be crucial for ranking in search results.
The Two Steps to Grow Your SEO Career
Howells-Barby advises those looking to grow their careers in SEO to focus on two steps: acquiring foundational SEO knowledge and building a solid network of trusted individuals. Joining communities and connecting with people in the industry can help build relationships and share information, leading to long-term career success.
Conclusion: A Promising Future for SEMrush and Traffic Think Tank
The acquisition of Traffic Think Tank by SEMrush signifies a major shift in the SEO industry. It will enable Traffic Think Tank to achieve its goals, offer new community programs, enhances product quality, and host physical events.
Overall, this acquisition is a positive development for both SEMrush and Traffic Think Tank customers. We look forward to seeing how it will shape the future of the SEO industry.
See also: Google’s Helpful Content Update.
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