The search engine optimization landscape in 2010 underwent a major transformation, with various new tactics being adopted by webmasters and SEO practitioners. The most noticeable difference was the increased emphasis on building quality backlinks and engaging in social media marketing. While the traditional principles and practices of SEO remained the same, the emphasis on link building and social media activities was a major departure from the earlier SEO models. In the past, webmasters relied heavily on the use of keyword research and content optimization to improve their rankings in the search engine results pages. While still important, these activities were…