Title: 5 Situations SEO is NOT Necessary Author: Travis McAshan Published: February 25, 2010 Last modified: September 7, 2026 --- # 5 Situations SEO is NOT Necessary SEO In most situations, optimizing your website to be found online seems like an obvious company goal, but in reality, this is not always the case. In my experience, I've found there ... ![Travis McAshan](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/Travis-1.png) Travis McAshan Published Feb 2010 ![5 Situations SEO is NOT Necessary](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/ seo-situations.svg) Share on Social Media * [Fb](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/5-situations-seo/&t=5 Situations SEO is NOT Necessary) * [Li](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&title=5 Situations SEO is NOT Necessary&url=https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/5-situations-seo/) * [Tw](http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Currently reading 5 Situations SEO is NOT Necessary&url=https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/5-situations-seo/) Table of contents ![Future-Proof Your SEO with GEO Strategies](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/ uploads/optimize-your-brand-ai-driven-search-ebook-cover-300x388.png) Future-Proof Your SEO with GEO Strategies Discover the key insights on how AI-driven search is reshaping digital visibility. [Download Ebook](https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/5-situations-seo/?output_format=md#geted-post-form-popup) In most situations, optimizing your website to be found online seems like an obvious company goal, but in reality, this is not always the case. In my experience, I’ve found there are a couple of situations where an SEO campaign is simply unnecessary. ### 1. You DON’T want your website to be found There are some unique cases where having strangers visit your website will do no good for your business model. For example, if you have an online training tool for your specific employees or an online classroom tool for your students. Overall, this is a specific situation where it’s best to spend your resources in other areas. ### 2. Your site is already ranking extremely well It could be that your in a relatively non-competitive market and you have a large advantage on your competition.  You’re site is already ranking rather well, you’re more than happy with your lead volume, and you simply don’t want to fix what isn’t broken. While I salute you, the rest of the web might snub it’s nose at your rather fortunate situation. ### 3. You’re in a HUGE rush (or are desperate for new leads) Perhaps you’re in a hurry to close new sales and if you don’t get a certain number of leads and closed sales in the next 30-60 days you’ll have to shut the doors. In this regard you’d be far better off with a quality PPC campaign. The problem with placing expectation and pressure on your SEO is because of the nature of a great SEO campaign. Great SEO is an organic slow-growing beast that becomes more and more powerful as you feed it. However, don’t expect your lion cub to turn into the king of the jungle over night… like all things in life, patience is rewarded. ### 4. You are going to completely rebuild your website Over the past couple of years we have had a number of website rebuilds where the company came to us through the referral of an SEO consultancy. In almost every situation, the best approach is to build the new site with great SEO principles, but wait on the actual campaign until the new site is live. As soon as you launch the site a full blown SEO campaign is just what the doctor ordered to take your prize to the next level. ### 5. You’re developing a new web presence on a test server This is another one of those unique situations but I had to include it on the list because of how often it’s popped up for us. In the last few years, it seems as if Google has become a voracious beast when it comes to new content. It’s scouring the web constantly looking for links to new pages. If you’re developing a site that you don’t want anyone to see make sure to password protect the server. We have found that “norobots” exclusions, drafted pages in CMS, and many in other situations, Google will FIND a way to your website pages whether you want people there or not. When in doubt about if your page is visible to Google, ask an expert! --- ### Quotable Quote… _“Succeeding is not really a life experience that does much good. Failing is a much more sobering and enlightening experience.”**— Michael Eisner, executive**_ --- Share on Social Media * [Fb](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/5-situations-seo/&t=5 Situations SEO is NOT Necessary) * [Li](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&title=5 Situations SEO is NOT Necessary&url=https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/5-situations-seo/) * [Tw](http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Currently reading 5 Situations SEO is NOT Necessary&url=https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/5-situations-seo/) What topics would you like to see us write about next? Suggest a topic Δ Share on Social Media * [Fb](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/5-situations-seo/&t=5 Situations SEO is NOT Necessary) * [Li](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&title=5 Situations SEO is NOT Necessary&url=https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/5-situations-seo/) * [Tw](http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Currently reading 5 Situations SEO is NOT Necessary&url=https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/5-situations-seo/) Table of contents ![Future-Proof Your SEO with GEO Strategies](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/ uploads/optimize-your-brand-ai-driven-search-ebook-cover-300x388.png) Future-Proof Your SEO with GEO Strategies Discover the key insights on how AI-driven search is reshaping digital visibility. [Download Ebook](https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/5-situations-seo/?output_format=md#geted-post-form-popup) ![Future-Proof Your SEO with GEO Strategies](https://www.glidedesign.com/wp-content/ uploads/optimize-your-brand-ai-driven-search-ebook-cover-300x388.png) Future-Proof Your SEO with GEO Strategies Discover the key insights on how AI-driven search is reshaping digital visibility. Download PDF ## Marketing tips delivered to your inbox. ## Don’t miss [ User Experience (UX) ](https://www.glidedesign.com/category/user-experience-ux/) [ Web Design & Development ](https://www.glidedesign.com/category/web-design-development/) [ Easy to Read + Your Site = More Sales ](https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/easy-read-site-sales/) Writing great content starts with the customer but mixes some good old usability in for good measure. Remember, people [Read more](https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/easy-read-site-sales/) [ ⌊Easy to Read + Your Site = More Sales⌉ ](https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/easy-read-site-sales/) [ Industry Insights ](https://www.glidedesign.com/category/industry-insights/) [ PPC ](https://www.glidedesign.com/category/ppc/) [ How to Generate Leads with Google Ads for your New Website ](https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/how-to-generate-leads-with-google-ads-for-your-new-website/) Navigating the complex world of Google ads becomes increasingly difficult for multi- location organizations. Discover a [Read more](https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/how-to-generate-leads-with-google-ads-for-your-new-website/) [ ⌊How to Generate Leads with Google Ads for your New Website⌉ ](https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/how-to-generate-leads-with-google-ads-for-your-new-website/) [ Content Marketing ](https://www.glidedesign.com/category/content-marketing/) [ Content 101: Writing Actionable Website Copy ](https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/content-101-writing-actionable-website-copy/) [Read more](https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/content-101-writing-actionable-website-copy/) [ ⌊Content 101: Writing Actionable Website Copy⌉ ](https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/content-101-writing-actionable-website-copy/) [ Company ](https://www.glidedesign.com/category/company/) [ Profiles of Success: Faradays Kitchen Store ](https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/profiles-success-faradays-kitchen-store/) [Read more](https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/profiles-success-faradays-kitchen-store/) [ ⌊Profiles of Success: Faradays Kitchen Store⌉ ](https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/profiles-success-faradays-kitchen-store/) [ Company ](https://www.glidedesign.com/category/company/) [ Glide Design Recent Awards and Recognitions ](https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/glide-design-recent-awards-and-recognitions/) [Read more](https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/glide-design-recent-awards-and-recognitions/) [ ⌊Glide Design Recent Awards and Recognitions⌉ ](https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/glide-design-recent-awards-and-recognitions/) [ Industry Insights ](https://www.glidedesign.com/category/industry-insights/) [ SEO ](https://www.glidedesign.com/category/seo/) [ How to Increase Organic Search Traffic to a New Website (16 Proven Techniques) ](https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/how-to-increase-organic-search-traffic/) Getting organic traffic to new websites is a critical first step for multi-location health organizations. Discover 16 [Read more](https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/how-to-increase-organic-search-traffic/) [ ⌊How to Increase Organic Search Traffic to a New Website (16 Proven Techniques)⌉ ](https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/how-to-increase-organic-search-traffic/) [ Web Design & Development ](https://www.glidedesign.com/category/web-design-development/) [ 6 Ways to Positively ID Great Web Design ](https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/6-ways-positively-id-great-web-design/) [Read more](https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/6-ways-positively-id-great-web-design/) [ ⌊6 Ways to Positively ID Great Web Design⌉ ](https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/6-ways-positively-id-great-web-design/) [ Web Design & Development ](https://www.glidedesign.com/category/web-design-development/) [ Reasons to Redesign your Website – When a Quick Fix Isn’t Enough ](https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/reasons-redesign-your-website/) There are many reasons to redesign your website. Proper planning, research and preparation can make the experience [Read more](https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/reasons-redesign-your-website/) [ ⌊Reasons to Redesign your Website – When a Quick Fix Isn’t Enough⌉ ](https://www.glidedesign.com/blog/reasons-redesign-your-website/)