Why it's time for SEO companies to get an industry governing body!

I wrote a blog item about the same company, Tim, which I have linked to above. It appears that they send the same SEO spam out to hundreds of companies a day. Having spoken to one of their "senior consultants", I have to say I'm not impressed with what they are offering, but the very fact that an SEO company has to resort to spam emails to make a living - when they are promising to make small fortunes for others by ranking them on the front pages for their search terms - should make any recipient wary in the first place!

I am in the process of compiling my own self-styled, self-imposed SEO ethics / code of conduct so typed into Google "SEO governing body" just to make sure I wasn't wrong in thinking there isn't one.

I guess that tells you I'm one of those who would like to see a governing body.

Thanks for the comments gents, we've got a group (UK Digital Agency Network) up on LinkedIn which we're hoping to use to start some form of standards or quality mark. Join up if you're interested.

It's even more infuriating when another Manchester agency, with the initials FF set up a company called, "Search engine easy" and start cold calling everyone. Including us. A web design agency who also has an SEO department.

The problem is it isn't transparent enough just yet. I think if the government put in place a body of people to monitor just this they could stop the rot. For example, starting a website with an email address on for every industry, then as and when the rubbish comes through they close that company down.

Hi Tim, Kudos for speaking out about this issue.

I too have had problems of a very similar nature. A long term client of ours was contacted by a so called 'SEO expert' (self proclaimed, of course!). Reading his email, it was obviously meant to invoke fear of failing to rank in Google, but due to the typos, it was more a work of comedy!.

Anyway, he went on to explain that the client (who was in the technology / PC servicing niche) didn't appear to rank in Google at ALL for the term: cheap holidays!

Needless to say, the client upon reading his email was at first a bit worried, but luckily due to a long standing and positive working relationship with said client, and the fact that the spammer seemingly wanted to rank a technology/pc servicing website for the term: cheap holidays, there was no real problems.

I do feel though, that like 'Big Man' said above, SEO companies of all people should not need to resort to crappy spam emails to get clients!

My usual reply to any of my clients that get such emails is to ask if they consider cold call, hard sell emails as spam, and if they would be happy with such a company being responsible for their online image and brand reputation!

Anyway, thanks for raising this issue, I will maybe blog about this soon myself, and pop a 'source' link back to you guys in appreciation of this post.

Thanks for all your comments and support for at least some kind of regulation. Upon reading an article in Crains today,where I-COM's Head of SEO, Mindy Gofton has made some excellent comments re: SEO Delivery, Quality and Investment. I also received an email from one of my clients which has the same aim that KINGPIN points out to invoke fear of not ranking! Luckily the client can see right through it and forwarded it to me to let me know of the particular organisation and their approach.

It has highlighted yet again the need for some kind of quality mark or regulation. If you are interested in this or want to contribute join the group that my Operations Director Mike Blackburn has set up UK Digital Agency Network which next year will have a lot more focus in looking at the issues within our sector.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Tim

I totally agree that there is a HUGE need for a this. I'm so so sad to see many businesses use this cowboys and get 'burnt'and lose money, faith, enthusiasm and more importantly 'customers'.
Maybe we could have a group, who promote they are members, but all members are reviewed by each other and are answerable to what they say / do etc.
This way, we can all improve and align ourselves better, to offering quality services and stopping these 'cash hunters'.
We all know there is tonnes of business out there, so I'm happy to help and be helped, coz none of us know everything.
And it would be a great help in a sales appointment to mention we belong to a 'body / association' like this.

Great discussion and I totally agree wit the need for a governing body. I would also like to see certified courses and registration processes to test competency.

I think setting up an SEO governing body is a great idea. How would it work? Would we set up a website with certified members who have been checked out by our peers. What would the criteria be? How would we monitor whether members behaved themselves and were actually 'white hat' - I ask these questions not to be awkward but to start a discussion. Everyone these days thinks they know everything about social media, SEO, white hat, black hat etc. Do we categorise SEO locally as we all know that SEO can be performed on a global scale? It's a nightmare scenario but one worth exploring (I think).............

Thanks Andrew for your comments and probing questions.

We have started to address how it would work and indeed asked the same questions as yourself and a lot more, unfortunately due to the amount of work we have on at the moment we have not completed it. I would be happy to send you the outputs once completed for your view, opinion and feedback.

Best wishes
Tim
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