I’ve been thinking a lot about Barnacle SEO recently.

Some of the reason is a renewed focus on link-building, which is at the core of Barnacle SEO.

In response to this post on LinkedIn, my old friend Rich Hargrave asks ‘… where are the”barnacles”?’

In my reply, I was trying to come up with an analogy for something that is ever present, that we don’t often think about. Because, I often find that Barnacle SEO is the solution for many SEO problems.

SEO is about 3 things for me, the same 3 things it’s always been about: keywords, content, and links (AKA Barnacles).

So I turned to my very smart friend ChatGPT – and yes, it’s totally worth the 20 bucks to me – and asked for help.

And I was reminded yet again of how people are getting it wrong about ChatGPT. And don’t even get me started on how ChatGPT IS AI Content for so many people. As I said in a recent exchange at work, ChatGPT is a snowflake on the tip of the iceberg. There is SO much more AI content coming.

And then I asked for another iteration.

And then I liked the answer and asked for ChatGPT to expand on its thinking.

And I got this – which I like.

Me: gravity as an analogy for barnacle seo

ChatGPT: Using gravity as an analogy for barnacle SEO, we can say that just like gravity, barnacle SEO is a force that is always present and affecting the search engine results.

Barnacle SEO refers to the practice of optimizing your presence on high-authority websites or platforms such as Yelp, TripAdvisor, or Google My Business to rank higher in search engine results. This is similar to how gravity affects all objects, regardless of their size or weight.

Just like how gravity pulls everything towards the earth, barnacle SEO allows businesses to attract more customers to their website by piggybacking on the authority of popular sites. When someone searches for a product or service related to your business, your optimized presence on high-authority websites can increase your chances of appearing at the top of search engine results.

However, just as objects with more mass experience a stronger gravitational force, businesses with a stronger online presence and more optimized content on high-authority sites will likely have better results with barnacle SEO. So, just as it’s important to have a solid foundation and mass to withstand gravity’s force, it’s important to have a strong online presence and optimized content to succeed with barnacle SEO.

Maybe Barnacle SEO is really Elvis

Or perhaps Barnacle SEO is like Elvis. Mojo Nixon suggests, Elvis (Barnacle SEO) is Everywhere.