I suspect that most will be blissfully unaware, but the 2024 Vendée Globe got underway this week.
The Vendée Globe is one of the world’s most demanding solo sailing races which is infamous for pushing sailors to their limits as they navigate treacherous seas around the world.
I would most definitely not classify myself as a sailing fan, but I have always had a soft spot for the Vendée Globe and find myself following the drama as it unfolds every four years. I enjoyed the America’s Cup, which took place in Barcelona in recent weeks, but I have always preferred the Vendée Globe, which feels more like the ultimate showdown of man / machine versus nature. It is a genuine test of endurance, strategy and resilience and every race creates real drama.
So what does this have to do with SEO?
To be honest – not very much much! But….. there are some interesting parallels that I thought it may be fun to explore as a frivolous Friday blog post. Ali wrote about how SEO is like curling back in 2018, so I thought it was time for a different perspective.
In no particular order, here are some comparisons that I have been pondering this week as the 2024 edition of the Vendée Globe got underway.
It is a marathon, not a sprint
The Vendée Globe is most definitely a long race – yachts will clock up around 40,000 miles if they manage to get across the finishing line.
SEO is also very much an ongoing, long-term strategy. Success in SEO requires a willingness to make steady, incremental improvements and to stay the course over months or even years.
Like the Vendée Globe, where sailors endure challenging conditions for weeks on end, SEO demands patience and a commitment to overcoming the inevitable challenges that will be thrown at you.
You must have a strategy
Vendée Globe sailors spend months (years?) preparing their boats, assessing equipment and training for every possible scenario. They will meticulously plan their routes and analyse weather patterns, tides and currents before setting off
A successful SEO strategy also requires a ruthless dedication to planning.
Choosing the right keywords, creating quality content, optimising site structure and developing a digital PR strategy are all foundational to SEO success. Like a well-equipped boat, a well-prepared website stands a much better chance of SEO success.
You can be sure that all the sailors in the Vendée Globe have a highly developed strategy that will have taken months to develop and will have an answer to as many ‘what if?’ scenarios as possible.
Failure to set off on an SEO journey without a clear strategy and consideration of likely hurdles is highly likely to lead to getting lost in the vast “ocean” of the internet without ever reaching top search rankings.
No plan survives first contact with the enemy
This is a famous saying, but seems to have been attributed to several individuals, including Helmuth von Moltke, Carl von Clausewitz and Dwight D Eisenhower. A more contemporary version is Mike Tyson’s, “Everyone has a plan until they are punched in the face”.
Whoever you want to give the credit to, the message is simple – you should expect the unexpected and however good you are with your planning (see above), you *will* have curveballs thrown your way.
Sailors in the Vendée Globe face storms, technical malfunctions (I am thinking of you Alex Thompson) and a raft of unexpected challenges. They must also constantly adapt to changing weather and sea conditions.
The SEO world is equally unpredictable.
With regular algorithm updates, shifting search trends and evolving competitor tactics, SEO professionals need to be agile, resilient and be prepared to pivot. To be successful on your SEO journey, you have to constantly evaluate your progress and be prepared to adjust your strategy to stay on course.
You cannot cut corners
Just as there are no shortcuts across the oceans in the Vendée Globe, there are no shortcuts in SEO.
Attempts to use “black-hat” techniques or other quick fixes—such as keyword stuffing, buying links, or using clickbait—can yield short-term gains but often lead to long-term penalties.
True SEO success, like completing the Vendée Globe, comes from consistent, ethical tactics that build a strong foundation.
You have to monitor EVERYTHING
In the Vendée Globe, sailors are always checking their navigation systems, weather updates and boat conditions to make necessary adjustments.
SEO also requires constant monitoring. Using tools like Google Analytics, Search Console and SEO software allows you to analyse your performance and measure the success of your digital marketing.
Sailors will adjust their course based on real-time data. Successful SEO demands similar attention to live data and a failure to spot trends can lead you way off course.
There is more than one winner
Whilst there is strictly only one winner of the Vendée Globe, there is global recognition that simply finishing the race is an incredible achievement.
The failure rate is very high and the monumental budgets required to have the most technically advanced boat mean that most of the competitors are not even in the race to win it. They are racing their own personal race and recognise realistic targets.
I think that SEO can be very similar – you need to pick your battles and recognise that some competitors should not be in your cross-hairs. You also don’t have to be no.1 for every keyword – as long as you are improving your organic search visibility across a wide range of keywords, you can expect to enjoy increased traffic levels and greatly improve the value of your website.
Set realistic targets and enjoy the journey.
Wind-up
(yes – that is a deliberate nautical play on words)
Am I going mad or does my frivolous Friday post have some merit?
I do believe that the Vendée Globe and SEO share a common philosophy: both are about endurance, skill, resilience and adaptation. You will face obstacles, whether sailing around the world or trying to dominate the SERPs, but the rewards are great for those who commit to the journey and embrace a growth mindset.
If you are struggling with SEO, think of the sailors who are currently on the water. Those who are the most successful, in both disciplines, do so not because they avoided hardship, but because they learned to navigate it.
