Do you believe everything Matt Cutts says re SEO?

[alfredopalconit]

Since we consider him as an authority when it comes to Google related inquiries on SEO, should we treat his answers as Google's official reponse or he has some hidden / read-between-the-lines message everytime he answers? Thanks!

[KrisRoadruck]

Absolutely not. I think matt puts out a lot of great information and respect the man immensely. HOWEVER, he works for the head of the google webspam department and google chose him of all people to be the primary interactor with SEO's. That alone should tell you something.

Policing the internet from spam and manipulation is a full time job. I imagine its hard to the point were a little misdirection acts as a great temporary prophylactic against many otherwise-would-be serp manipulators.

This is of course just my opinion.. but a lot of people seem to share it.

[saibose]

Well, to answer your question, its a no. I dont believe in everything he says. Although, he has given us great insight and his information helps a lot of webmasters do the right things. Being the head of webspam, there are 2 ways of doing things:

1. remove spam from backend- fulltime and let the users guess reasons (which maybe dangerous as people may read into actions and there maybe misconceptions)

2. Educate the webmasters so that they refrain from doing anything to attract blacklisting. That ecreases his work load as well.

I would rather follow Eric or Larry Page as to the direction Google is going.

[Guest]

This post is deleted!

[SEMPassion]

Yes I would consider Matt an expert on Google related SEO issues.  Yes I would treat his answers as Google's offical response.

I don't think it matters who much of an expert you are talking to.  You have to use good critical thinking skills and look at how what they are saying fits with what your experience has been on the issue.  Then no matter what, test, test, and test again.  This is an industry that changes continuously and you have to continually adapt your methods.

[Doc_Sheldon]

I think what he says is often less important than what he doesn't say.

As the defacto Google spokesman to our industry, he's in a tough position, and I think if you're fair, you'll admit he does a good job for Google, and provides good info to us. You just have to read between the lines a little. I've yet to ever see Matt caught in a lie. More often, people are to quick to hear what they want to hear.