# SEO Contests (Concours SEO)

> Reference archive of 42 SEO (search engine optimization) contests since 2002, with the search context of each era, step-by-step guides and GEO/AIEO coverage. Published by Yann Faurie (Nantes, France). Bilingual: French at the root, English under /en/. Every page has a counterpart in the other language (hreflang).

Notes: contest names are usually the invented target keyword. Dates are year-level. Facts not stated on a profile are unknown, not zero.

## Main pages
- [Home (EN)](https://concours-seo.com/en/): overview
- [Accueil (FR)](https://concours-seo.com/): vue d’ensemble
- [Archive (EN)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/): all contests by era and year
- [Archive (FR)](https://concours-seo.com/concours/): tous les concours
- [GEO & AIEO (EN)](https://concours-seo.com/en/geo/): generative engine optimization contests
- [GEO & AIEO (FR)](https://concours-seo.com/geo/)
- [Glossary (EN)](https://concours-seo.com/en/glossary/): SEO/GEO terms
- [Glossaire (FR)](https://concours-seo.com/glossaire/)
- [FAQ (EN)](https://concours-seo.com/en/faq/)
- [FAQ (FR)](https://concours-seo.com/faq/)
- [About (EN)](https://concours-seo.com/en/about/)
- [À propos (FR)](https://concours-seo.com/a-propos/)

## Guides
- [Preparing an SEO contest](https://concours-seo.com/en/guide/preparation/): Goals, invented keyword, rules and timeline: the basics for preparing a fair, measurable SEO contest. [FR](https://concours-seo.com/guide/preparation/)
- [Creating and launching an SEO contest](https://concours-seo.com/en/guide/creation/): Official page, Discord community, Event markup and first backlinks: launching a visible SEO contest. [FR](https://concours-seo.com/guide/creation/)
- [Running an SEO contest](https://concours-seo.com/en/guide/management/): Regular SERP snapshots, moderation, anti-cheat and transparency while the contest runs. [FR](https://concours-seo.com/guide/gestion/)
- [Optimising to win an SEO contest](https://concours-seo.com/en/guide/optimization/): On-page, link building, indexing and structured data: levers proven by entrants, from PageRank to GEO. [FR](https://concours-seo.com/guide/optimisation/)
- [Analysing SEO contest results](https://concours-seo.com/en/guide/analysis/): KPIs, tools (Search Console, Ahrefs, Majestic, Semrush) and post-mortem: learning from an SEO contest. [FR](https://concours-seo.com/guide/analyse/)

## Pioneers (2002–2005)
Category page: [EN](https://concours-seo.com/en/categories/pioneers/) · [FR](https://concours-seo.com/categories/pionniers/)
- [Schnitzelmitkartoffelsalat (2002)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/schnitzelmitkartoffelsalat/): First contest identified in the archive, designed to test search-engine robots with an invented German-language keyword. [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/schnitzelmitkartoffelsalat/)
- [Nigritude Ultramarine (2004)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/nigritude-ultramarine/): International English-language contest, one of the most famous in SEO history, which popularised the invented-keyword principle. [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/nigritude-ultramarine/)
- [Mangeur de Cigognes (2004)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/mangeur-de-cigognes/): SEO contest 2004 · Pioneers [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/mangeur-de-cigognes/)
- [Chocoku (2004)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/chocoku/): SEO contest 2004 · Pioneers [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/chocoku/)
- [Sorcier Glouton (2005)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/sorcier-glouton/): SEO contest 2005 · Pioneers [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/sorcier-glouton/)
- [MSNBetter ThanGoogle (2005)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/msnbetter-thangoogle/): SEO contest 2005 · Pioneers [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/msnbetter-thangoogle/)

## Golden age of SEO contests (2006–2010)
Category page: [EN](https://concours-seo.com/en/categories/golden-age/) · [FR](https://concours-seo.com/categories/age-d-or/)
- [Tiger l’Osmose (2006)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/tiger-l-osmose/): SEO contest 2006 · Golden age of SEO contests [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/tiger-l-osmose/)
- [Loupanthère (2006)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/loupanthere/): SEO contest 2006 · Golden age of SEO contests [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/loupanthere/)
- [Cobraoupouaout (2006)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/cobraoupouaout/): SEO contest 2006 · Golden age of SEO contests [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/cobraoupouaout/)
- [Cobraoutaxi (2006)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/cobraoutaxi/): SEO contest 2006 · Golden age of SEO contests [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/cobraoutaxi/)
- [Tagger l’Os Mauve (2006)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/tagger-l-os-mauve/): SEO contest 2006 · Golden age of SEO contests [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/tagger-l-os-mauve/)
- [Kazayarama le Chamow (2006)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/kazayarama-le-chamow/): SEO contest 2006 · Golden age of SEO contests [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/kazayarama-le-chamow/)
- [ambatchdotcom seocontest (2006)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/ambatchdotcom-seocontest/): SEO contest 2006 · Golden age of SEO contests [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/ambatchdotcom-seocontest/)
- [Isulong SEOph (2006)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/isulong-seoph/): SEO contest 2006 · Golden age of SEO contests [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/isulong-seoph/)
- [Kablumy (2006)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/kablumy/): SEO contest 2006 · Golden age of SEO contests [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/kablumy/)
- [Zurtouij (2007)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/zurtouij/): SEO contest 2007 · Golden age of SEO contests [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/zurtouij/)
- [Combat Oupouaout III (2007)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/combat-oupouaout-iii/): SEO contest 2007 · Golden age of SEO contests [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/combat-oupouaout-iii/)
- [globalwarming awareness2007 (2007)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/globalwarming-awareness2007/): SEO contest 2007 · Golden age of SEO contests [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/globalwarming-awareness2007/)
- [Stockbanddonné (2007)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/stockbanddonne/): SEO contest 2007 · Golden age of SEO contests [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/stockbanddonne/)
- [Taupe irradiée (2007)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/taupe-irradiee/): SEO contest 2007 · Golden age of SEO contests [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/taupe-irradiee/)
- [SEOcratie (2008)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/seocratie/): SEO contest 2008 · Golden age of SEO contests [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/seocratie/)
- [Seocontest2008 (2008)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/seocontest2008/): SEO contest 2008 · Golden age of SEO contests [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/seocontest2008/)
- [Black Hattitude (2009)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/black-hattitude/): SEO contest 2009 · Golden age of SEO contests [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/black-hattitude/)
- [Schroumyziguac (2009)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/schroumyziguac/): SEO contest 2009 · Golden age of SEO contests [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/schroumyziguac/)
- [Schroumyziguac Citraubien (2009)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/schroumyziguac-citraubien/): SEO contest 2009 · Golden age of SEO contests [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/schroumyziguac-citraubien/)
- [Gnomecorp (2009)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/gnomecorp/): SEO contest 2009 · Golden age of SEO contests [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/gnomecorp/)
- [Superrefman (2010)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/superrefman/): SEO contest 2010 · Golden age of SEO contests [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/superrefman/)

## Post-Penguin (2011–2015)
Category page: [EN](https://concours-seo.com/en/categories/post-penguin/) · [FR](https://concours-seo.com/categories/post-penguin/)
- [Pandanarol (2011)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/pandanarol/): SEO contest 2011 · Post-Penguin [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/pandanarol/)
- [Sentimencho (2012)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/sentimencho/): SEO contest 2012 · Post-Penguin [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/sentimencho/)
- [Loupanthere (2012)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/loupanthere-2012/): SEO contest 2012 · Post-Penguin [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/loupanthere-2012/)
- [Alphabet (2015)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/alphabet/): SEO contest 2015 · Post-Penguin [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/alphabet/)

## French excellence (2016–2019)
Category page: [EN](https://concours-seo.com/en/categories/french-excellence/) · [FR](https://concours-seo.com/categories/excellence-francaise/)
- [Cricetus (2016)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/cricetus/): SEO contest 2016 · French excellence [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/cricetus/)
- [SEO Hero (2017)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/seo-hero/): SEO contest run by Wix, which staged search-ranking competition at scale. [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/seo-hero/)
- [Qwanturank (2019)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/qwanturank/): Launched by the Qwant search engine: €50,000 in prizes and anti-spam testing. [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/qwanturank/)
- [Smartphone pliable (2019)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/smartphone-pliable/): SEO contest 2019 · French excellence [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/smartphone-pliable/)

## Recent contests (2020–2025)
Category page: [EN](https://concours-seo.com/en/categories/recent/) · [FR](https://concours-seo.com/categories/recents/)
- [Masdigbord (2020)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/masdigbord/): 2020 contest aimed at students. [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/masdigbord/)
- [Branding Astral (2024)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/branding-astral/): Organised by Neurchi SEO in 2024: 30 participants, structured phases, massive backlinks and narrative strategy. [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/branding-astral/)
- [Stratégie de citrouilles algorithmiques (2024–2025)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/strategie-citrouilles-algorithmiques/): Multi-platform contest (Google, TikTok, ChatGPT) organised by FepSem: over 1,000 participants and an absurd keyword that became a cult. [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/strategie-citrouilles-algorithmiques/)
- [Keywordkönig (2025)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/keywordkonig/): SEO contest 2025 · Recent contests [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/keywordkonig/)
- [Flumberico (2025)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/flumberico/): SEO contest 2025 · Recent contests [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/flumberico/)
- [Linkavista Giveaway (2025)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/linkavista-giveaway/): SEO contest 2025 · Recent contests [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/linkavista-giveaway/)
- [Concours étudiants SEO (SUPINFO, Excelia, INSEEC) (2025)](https://concours-seo.com/en/contests/concours-etudiants/): WordPress and SEO challenges run by SUPINFO Lille, Excelia and INSEEC to build a portfolio and a network. [FR](https://concours-seo.com/concours/concours-etudiants/)

## Data
- [contests.json](https://concours-seo.com/data/contests.json): structured archive
- [contests.csv](https://concours-seo.com/data/contests.csv)
- [sitemap.xml](https://concours-seo.com/sitemap.xml)

## Optional
- [llms-full.txt](https://concours-seo.com/llms-full.txt): full plain-text content