Should You Write For GoogleBot or Humans?

[eVentureBiz]

I'm curious. Which do you think when crafting your website you should make of higher importance:

1. Your website's design and content is crafted for human readability.

or

2. Fill your content with SEO tactics GoogleBot will use to index your site well in search engines (i.e. your site's design and content is more difficult for humans to read and follow but your site will be indexed well in the SERPs).

I understand a good combination of both is good, but which do you lay more emphasis on?

[pezboy45]

I almost never write my content "googlebot" friendly.

I always try to make it look better for the eye.
I mean, really, are the bots the one that could stare at your content for hours on end, or some human (that gets sucked into your awesome website).
Its the Humans!

And, plus, I've been on the internet for a good 6-8 years.
I got my first domain name when I was 10? goobergeek.com (but that rarely shows up).
Anyways, if you type my name "Andrew Kemp" I'm number 2.

And if you type "dapezboy" I'm all 744 pages.

[ishkey]

I try for the human factor.
But, nor do I forget my search engine friends. They all have something to help me move up to the front of the pack. Take Yahoo's New SearchMonkeys Tools which helps with tags. The only problem is to many webs a showing up with so much junk I can't figure out what the site is for.

[eVentureBiz]

Agreed. A good combination is key, but I believe more emphasis on the human factor is important. I came across a site where a guy talks about SEO topics on his blog and I think he has it wrong on who to write to. His content is clearly written for Googlebot and not humans.

I mentioned it once in his comment section and he disagrees with me but I don't want to hound the guy on his site.

By the way, thanks for creating the poll. I first wrote this post as a poll but it didn't allow me to explain where I was going, just a topic and poll.

@ Everyone else - please share your thoughts. I'd like to know what you think.

[emilypal]

I believe we should write for people because we want people to be interested in our content.
If i write for Googlebot only I'll rank fine and people will easily find my site. Though, they'll leave it as soon as possible when they see inappropriate content. So I prefer having less people on my site but these people will be satisfied with the design they see, services they can get and articles they can read.

[eVentureBiz]

I agree emilypal. Plus if your site is very well laid out and provides great content (for humans), it can also create a buzz, which in itself can be considered SEO.

[sunnee]

I think for humans!

imo

[clarkieee]

I think we should write for people and use those words that they type in while searching for our services. The right chosen keywords will attract people

[John Navara]

Humans and only humans according the last news from Google soon they will change their algo and searchbots will get "humans' face". That is why we have to write for the real readers.

[eVentureBiz]

@John Navara - which article are you referring to? Have a link you can share?