Watchdog resource for SEO consumersFledgling site could be useful for helping clean up the industry:
Looks like that forum hasn't gotten much use yet, but it won't be long... stories like this abound:
SEATTLE — The state attorney general said yesterday Redmond-based Internet Advancement must pay penalties for failing to get its customers top placement on major search engines. Internet Advancement, which also goes by 4GreatBuys.com, must refund customers, pay $24,432 to the state for costs incurred and a civil penalty of $25,000.
The company had promised to get its customers ranked in the top 10 to 20 results on the search engines... The case involved "search engine optimization" services, which attempt to get businesses high placement in search-engine results. She said the Attorney General's Office, the Federal Trade Commission and the Better Business Bureau received more than 100 complaints from customers around the country.
Seattle Times
This seoripoff.com site looks like an excellent idea, so I clicked through to see what was posted, and there is nothing there except a way to file a report. Do they offer anything to consumers besides a reporting form?
Colleen Wright Search ENgine Academy of Oregon
I think they abandoned the idea... too worried about litigation I guess?
That's too bad...there is another site out that rates SEO companies http://www.semcompare.com/index.php. Check it out...
Anyone who is shopping for a SEO needs to ask some questions.
First, you need to "ask top 10 list for what search terms?" Top 10 for blue baboons is probably pretty easy but unless that's your product, it is not going to do you any good.
Second, ask "In which search engines? " The ones that count are Google, Google, Yahoo, and MSN (Google is listed twice because it handles about 70% of searches).
Third, ask what methods they are using? Some of the Black Hat techniques used by unscrupulous SEO companies can actually hurt your ranking or get your site banned from listing entirely.
I have an article about this on my site that goes into more detail:
Susan
It amazes me how many scam artists are out there promising #1 placement. Must be going for #1 in long tailed, misspelled keywords.
I usually figure that they are pretty much all crooks, at least the ones that are spamming my inbox!
Chris - very funny! :-)
Plus, if we all paid top dollar to be #1...well, you can see where this going. It wouldn't happen.
Looks like claiming top placement is now a huge financial and legal risk for these companies!
Recently saw an SEO pitch mass-marketed with direct links to a Google search of specific keywords, ostensibly as proof to show his results. Almost all of the #1 claims had dropped lower-- doesn't mean he is incompetent but that specific position depends on too many factors to promise as an absolute... unless such a tiny number of documents exists that a drunken monkey could get there.
This forum is unmoderated, but please keep discussion courteous and not too far off topic.
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