Isulong SeoPH: The $2,462 SEO Contest

Isulong SeoPH is a Philippine Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and keyword ranking contest. Up for grabs are prizes worth over PhP130,000 (about US$2,462).

The contest started last June 1, 2006 at 12:00 noon (Philippine time?) and runs until September 29, 2006 at 8:00PM. The contest is open to Filipinos and non-Filipinos, but you have to be present during the awarding ceremonies, according to the contest mechanics posted at SEOPhilippines.org (Hi, Marc!)

Aside from helping spread Search Engine Marketing (SEM) awareness, it will also be interesting to see how proficient people are when it comes to search engine optimization. Experts cannot fully rely on established domain names, since the winning site has to use a domain name first registered in the year 2006.

True, oldtimers can point links from their old domains to the new domain name, but newcomers can be creative. For example, if you build an interesting enough site I might even help you. Don't worry, the prizes will all go to you. No need to split anything. :-)

(Yes, I do have a soft spot for the struggling newcomers.)

For those low on capital, don't worry too much about competitors with deep pockets. The last time I looked, the first prize amounts to about PhP40,000 (US$757).

Here are some tips:

1. Network with popular bloggers so that you can get an "isulong seoph" text link from them.

2. Create viral marketing (humorous) videos and upload those to YouTube.

3. Responsibly use Tag and Ping to get traffic from social bookmark sites.

4. Post articles that others will find useful, and which other bloggers will link to.

5. Create useful, informative, or entertaining Viral PDF ebooks that other web site owners will offer for download on their web sites. Why will they do that? The PDF files will be brandable, which means they can insert a link to their web site for that perfect win-win link love experience.

6. And many more...

Looks like it's time to get to work optimizing for isulong seoph, right?

[ First posted on 06/02/2006 by Manuel Viloria ]