The SEO standards debate
Jill Whalen has become the latest SEO to join the SEO standards debate with an interesting post on Search Engine Land.
In the UK SEO doesn’t seem to be suffering from a reputation crisis, aside from frustrations about people being cold called. The industry is healthy and, in the main, people are seeing strong results and very few companies seem to be ripping people off.
If SEO companies started upsetting too many clients then the authorities in the UK would be quick to take action I have no doubt which sort of makes any SEO standards obselite. What would the standards say about buying links? If buying links wasn’t within the standards and a company got caught would they be ejected from the system? If so then this would no doubt cost them a lot of business.
Personally I don’t think the industry needs regulation and can’t see how an independent body could hope to govern such a diverse set of businesses.
March 27th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
What annoys me, and the company I work for are the fraudsters offering front page listings for £99 a month, when all they are doing is buying cost per click for clients.
We are constantly getting calls from clients regarding these companies.
And don’t get me started on the companies that ring you pretending that someone is about to buy all similar domain names. intending to rank better than you for your company name.
Yesterday we were offered them for £5,000, despite them not registering anything.
Pure Fraud.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:42 am
Hi Matt,
And which of the things you mention aren’t covered by existing laws?
March 28th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Hi Jill,
I’m not sure to be honest,I’m no lawyer these companies seem to start up shut down, change business name. etc