Gaming The System
Years ago, I was developing a website when someone I worked with asked me what I was doing about SEO. As I explained my thoughts, it became clear that he was less interested (if at all) in the fundamentals of SEO (strong content) than he was in how we could best ‘game’ the system.
I suggested that tricking the Google algorithm wouldn’t be a great strategy, and certainly not one that could be considered long-lasting. (There’s a reason they’re one of the most successful companies in the world.) Ultimately, we’d really need to work hard on the content first. He wasn’t happy with that answer, even though it was the right one.
Thing is, though, gaming the system is enticing, mainly because it seems to provide the answer(s) to “how can I get there faster”. Because when we’re starting out, our destination seems pretty far away and the path to getting there seems daunting, if not impossible.
Add to that our own impatience because, well, we all want it now, and you have all the necessary ingredients to look for shortcuts. Tricks and techniques that will fast-track our progress, and move us more quickly along the path to success.
We’re seeing the same dynamic play out right now in the world of Digital Art, where there’s a frenzy that’s been sparked by the crazy money being made selling NFTs, with artists like Beeple selling their work for tens of millions of dollars. As with anything where the money looks good, that’s not stopping others from looking at ways to game the system and grab their millions ASAP. And while some of these folks will make a few bucks quickly, this strategy isn’t going to work for most folks.
(What gets missed in the conversation is that artists like Beeple have been working on and honing their craft for a long time (well over a decade in Beeple’s case). He’s developed a reputation and a community that values what he does. So, whatever we might say about the actual price tag for his work, there’s no disputing that he’s put in the hard work.)
In other words, gaming the system isn’t a winning strategy, certainly not for the long term. You might get a few pops here and there, but it’s extremely difficult to win without an overriding focus on the fundamentals.
Because, if we’re trying to sell something, that something has to be as good as it possibly can be - whether it’s an idea, a service or a product. The quality of your output or content will help you go much further than any tip or trick will.
That’s not a fashionable thing to say, of course, because it’s a laborious process (and it doesn’t sell self-help courses!).
Focusing on the fundamentals takes its own time. It involves a necessary process of learning and refinement that has to happen as we evolve our work, as more folks value what we’re doing and help spread the word. Focusing on the fundamentals is the only sustainable path to success and, in the long run, those who put in the work, learn their craft and build their communities, will be the ones who prosper.
