The Underscore Archives

Thanks to everyone that replied to this one. I wasn't aware that this could
be such an issue and it will really help to be able to hand this info back
to my client. 

There was one other practice that we do here that made me think could fall
into this negative basket. It's the use of CSS to hide text in the page. Now
don't get me wrong we don't hide huge chunks of text full of irrelevant
keywords. We simply hide the H1 tag, usually because there is some image
performing the header, company name etc of the page. We then set the H1 tag
to something short and still relevant eg Tangy Media - Web Development. 

Any idea is this is massively detrimental or acceptable?

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Samantha Mignano - Analyst [mailto:sam at beyondmetrix.com] 
Sent: 20 December 2007 21:13
To: underscore at under-score.org.uk
Subject: Re: [_] Crap SEO

HI Jon,
Links from "bad neighbourhoods" and/or link buying etc can do much damage,
in extreme circumstances could even get your client banned from some
engines.
Its not just about an unfair deal for your client - its more about the
potential damage that could have been done by this company.
There are far too many "SEO specialists" out there who are actually
clueless, and are selling something they do not understand. (but that’s a
whole 'nother gripe of mine)

At best, the links would have been pointless due to their irrelevance to
your client's subject matter - but this could be the tip of the iceberg
depending on how long this company has been pimping bad links, and also
depending on whether they got flagged up in Google and other engines.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news this side of Crimbo.
If you need further help or free advice on this, give me a shout.
Sam

Beyond Metrix Ltd ~ evolving business online ~ www.beyondmetrix.com

Usability, Accessibility, Validation, Best Practice, SEO and online
marketing.

Need help with your website? Call us now for a free website audit
consultation. 08456 44 88 54

A UK registered limited company. Company Registration Number: 5734561. VAT
registration number 891 2460 17



-----Original Message-----
From: Jon Free [mailto:jon at tangymedia.co.uk] 
Sent: 20 December 2007 20:21
To: underscore at under-score.org.uk
Subject: [_] Crap SEO

Hello all,

I was hoping to pick the brains of those of you who are in to their Search
Engine Optimisation. 

We have recently taken on a client who wanted their site redeveloping and
updating. The client has mentioned that another company had already done or
was doing some SEO work on the site to improve it's rankings. I managed to
speak to the company who told me all they had done was to add links to the
clients site from their network of over 1,200 sites. I had a look at their
backlinks and found many of the sites he must have meant. Almost all of them
were completely irrelevant to the clients line of work and many of them
conveyed very little information of any use to anyone.  They were in essence
a load of little web craps.

Anyway this to me seemed like a pretty unfair deal for the client and I was
unsure that this actually made much difference to the ranking. I wanted to
tell him that it was a load of rubbish and to end the contract with them.
Would this be fair or is this kind of thing the norm and actually a good way
of improving rankings.

Any input appreciated. 

Jon 

________________________
Jon Free 
Technical Developer
Direct: (+44) 07931 925257
Email: Jon at tangymedia.co.uk 

Tangy Media Solutions 
88 Hampton Street 
Tetbury 
Gloucestershire
GL8 8LX
________________________
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