The Illusion of Control
Most people treat SEO like a magic formula. They track their rankings daily, obsess over fluctuations, and convince themselves that moving from #6 to #3 is the key to success. But here’s the brutal truth: you don’t control Google.
Search algorithms shift. Competition changes. AI-driven search is evolving at breakneck speed. Yet, too many people pour their energy into watching rankings instead of building something worth ranking in the first place.
It’s like staring at your reflection in the mirror expecting to see muscles grow. Results don’t come from watching. They come from doing.
Why Fixating on Rankings is a Trap
Have you ever watched grass grow? No? Because it doesn’t—not while you’re staring at it like an idiot. But water it daily, fertilize it, nurture it—walk away and return in a few months. Boom. Growth.
The same applies to SEO. Staring at your rankings every day is the least productive thing you can do. It breeds attachment to outcomes you don’t control and distracts you from the work that actually moves the needle.
Keyword rankings are a symptom of good strategy, not the strategy itself. Chasing them is like checking your bank account every five minutes instead of making money. Stop checking. Start earning.
SEO/AEO/VSO Still Matter—But Not Like You Think
Let’s be clear: SEO, AEO (Answer Engine Optimization), and VSO (Voice Search Optimization) are crucial—but they’re tools, not gods. Use them. Then walk away. But they’re tools, not goals.
The real goal? Helping people. When someone searches, they’re looking for answers, solutions, insights. If your content delivers real value, meets them where they are, and speaks to their needs, you win—regardless of what page you’re on today.
The best SEO strategy? Write answers your audience desperately needs, then structure them for search visibility.
The Better Alternative: Plant, Water, and Walk Away
Instead of babysitting your rankings, put that energy into consistent, meaningful action:
✅ Create high-value content that solves real problems. ✅ Show up consistently with fresh insights and useful resources. ✅ Engage daily—drop value-packed comments on LinkedIn, answer emails thoughtfully, and start real conversations. ✅ Optimize your content to be useful rather than just keyword-stuffed.
And then? Step back. Let time do its work. Growth happens while you’re busy executing, not while you’re obsessing over metrics.
Bottom Line: Are You Watching or Growing?
So ask yourself: Are you checking rankings daily… or actually making an impact?
Are you playing SEO, or are you building something worth finding?
Google rewards authority, trust, and value. That doesn’t come from chasing rank—it comes from showing up, putting in the work, and letting the results take care of themselves.
Close this tab. Stop tracking. Start building. The real winners are too busy growing to check.
Are you ready to grow your personal brand with high-impact content—designed to rank on Google and AI?
I’m Ivan Jimenez, a digital marketer with over a decade of experience in marketing and advertising (and the creator of this website).
This is my passion project… helping people create highly optimized content designed to position them as authorities in their space so they can land higher paying jobs that actually appreciate their value, attract amazing clients, and live their best favorite life.
If your goal is to become a thought-leader, grow your influence, and allow opportunities to find you (instead of the other way around), then you need to read this right now.