SEO techies of the world, beware: once again, our good friend, speculative work (“spec work” to its evil minions and evil friends), finds a way to make things cheaper, faster and more effective when it comes to screw the industry in the rear.  But, this time, it’s not the poor designers and graphic artists the ones that have to drink the Kool-Aid.

It’s you.

SEO expert: You are the victim now.

Bring Me the Head of that SEO Guy!

While I’m not saying that EVERY SEO contest is a way to promote a certain keyword for almost free, there are some shameful displays of greed that should be avoided at all costs.  SEO is a labor that takes time, research and effort.

While some Black Hat techniques don’t aim for long-lasting results, an organic search engine optimization campaign requires constant work and monitoring.

These “contests” have been proven to lessen the quality in both sides of the equation.  Since these “commissions” (and please allow me to indulge in the use of quotation marks, but the way they use euphemisms to get things for almost free is a cheap pun) are not agreed on a contract, the risk of time/profit loss grows to unhealthy levels.

When and How are YOU a Victim?

Let’s pretend an “awesome SEO contest” appears on the Internet, let’s follow this… joke… step by step:

•    A company promotes an “SEO contest”.  They offer a prize (cash, mostly) for the promotion and ranking of a key word they choose (usually, related to their field).
•    A naïve and eager SEO techie thinks this will not only be a piece of cake, but a great way to promote these mad SEO props –w3rd- , in the same demeanor some people work for peanuts in order to gain “experience” at certain fields.
•    Our young hero goes through lots of constant effort (and a vast array of assorted hats) to position this keyword, unaware that there are a bunch of guys doing just the same.
•    The deadline approaches, a winner (usually, the one who ranks the highest on Google) gets the “prize” (which is going to be split into an entire team if any), completely oblivious to the fact that there were many SEO techies working on the same thing.  Discarding SEO lost causes, an entire team of people (unknown to each other) worked for the sake of promotion.  They WORKED.  For free. The winner gets some crumbs from the toaster and the dubious honor of being an “SEO Contest Winner”.  Attractive, isn’t it?

The Joke is on YOU

I insist, not ALL of these contests are a hoax.  Some forums about Search Engine Optimization encourage visitors to participate on many experiments to prove the efficiency of a certain technique or the veracity of a certain myth with no other price than knowledge.  I understand and respect this.  I just REALLY, REALLY see these corporate “contests” with apprehension.

But, sometimes, people forget that these contests are the oldest scheme EVER!  Remember how Tom Sawyer got everyone to paint the fence?  He GOT PAID for letting others do his work!  He told them that it was fun to paint a fence.  A FREAKING FENCE!

My point is:  SEO is a job that requires time, effort and DESERVES to be paid honestly. It is a fact that the slightest increase of traffic to a site improves sales.  The more people you direct to your site, the more chances you’ve got to close deals.  Optimization is an investment that pays itself, quicker than expected.

SEO techies of the world:  DO NOT GIVE AWAY YOUR WORKING FORCE! We are the folk heroes of the Internet, the unsung ones, the anonymous hand that feed the beast.  Don’t lessen your job. Speculative Work is a cancer that should be stopped.

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This entry was posted on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 8:22 pm . You can leave a response.