Comments on: Search Marketing World – Full Disclosure About Site Clinics Required http://www.redcardinal.ie/sem/13-03-2007/search-marketing-world-free-clinics-not-so-free/ Search Engine Optimisation Ireland Tue, 31 Mar 2015 10:03:56 +0100 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.9.1 By: When Your SEO Provider Promotes Cloaking | Search Engine Optimisation Ireland .:. Red Cardinalhttp://www.redcardinal.ie/sem/13-03-2007/search-marketing-world-free-clinics-not-so-free/#comment-1450 Tue, 20 Mar 2007 21:15:50 +0000 http://www.redcardinal.ie/sem/13-03-2007/search-marketing-world-free-clinics-not-so-free/#comment-1450 [...] Last week I blogged my views on the forthcoming Search Marketing World expo. In particular I felt that disclosure around the site clinic sponsorship was very weak. Some people agreed, some people didn’t see the problem. [...]

]]> By: Jason Roehttp://www.redcardinal.ie/sem/13-03-2007/search-marketing-world-free-clinics-not-so-free/#comment-1453 Fri, 16 Mar 2007 17:24:39 +0000 http://www.redcardinal.ie/sem/13-03-2007/search-marketing-world-free-clinics-not-so-free/#comment-1453 Im Trying to arrange a meetup on the day see over at

http://www.jason-roe.com/blog/search-marketing-world-meet-up/

]]> By: Richard Hearnehttp://www.redcardinal.ie/sem/13-03-2007/search-marketing-world-free-clinics-not-so-free/#comment-1448 Fri, 16 Mar 2007 07:34:19 +0000 http://www.redcardinal.ie/sem/13-03-2007/search-marketing-world-free-clinics-not-so-free/#comment-1448 Hi Gavin

I should be fair and say that I wasn’t asked for any supporting evidence of my skills or ability. Perhaps my reputation precedes me, but I very much doubt it.

I wont be venturing near the clinics.
You wont be going along yourself?

Rgds
Richard

]]> By: Gavinhttp://www.redcardinal.ie/sem/13-03-2007/search-marketing-world-free-clinics-not-so-free/#comment-1449 Fri, 16 Mar 2007 01:16:41 +0000 http://www.redcardinal.ie/sem/13-03-2007/search-marketing-world-free-clinics-not-so-free/#comment-1449 I’m sure a few cowboys that I have run into in the past will be at this and probably dishing out the advice.

So let me guess. No screening process on which SEO doctors will be allowed? Apart from the size of their cheque?

I’m sure you’ll be watching carefully. :-)

]]> By: Richard Hearnehttp://www.redcardinal.ie/sem/13-03-2007/search-marketing-world-free-clinics-not-so-free/#comment-1455 Thu, 15 Mar 2007 10:27:23 +0000 http://www.redcardinal.ie/sem/13-03-2007/search-marketing-world-free-clinics-not-so-free/#comment-1455 Hi NPR

I have to say that I am quite clear that my issue is with disclosure not with sponsorship. I have absolutely no issue with sponsorship as long as that sponsorship is disclosed. I tried not to make any accusations, but rather give my suggestions for improving the transparency of the site clinics.

Why have the organisers not stated that the clinics are sponsored? Wouldn’t that be simple and the most appropriate action in this case?

I would presume that any sponsor of the clinics would also be listed

I think your presumption might be misguided. If you check the sponsorship page you will not find any reference to sponsoring the site clinics. One of the companies that was mentioned as participating in the site clinics is not listed anywhere on the site as a sponsor.

I agree that the term “no obligation consultation” appears in the copy, and this gives an indication of the commercial nature of those clinics. However, I think the approach of attendees will be very different if they are aware that those giving the advice have paid to do so – I would certainly be far more guarded.

If the clinics were conducted solely by Interactive Return staff I think it would be appropriate to leave it as-is. This is not the case however, and I would be very interested to know what vetting is conducted on these “experienced search marketing professionals”? After all, I was welcome to participate, if I paid the required fee, without providing any proof of my ability.

I agree that an event like this is exciting, but I’m not quite sure why you think I am promoting conspiracy theories or trying to damage the name of the event?

What I am trying to do is protect a very nascent industry that has been damaged by the many cowboys who offer ‘SEO’ services here in Ireland. And just to be clear, that is not a dig at any company involved in the clinics or the event itself.

Rgds
Richard

]]> By: NPRhttp://www.redcardinal.ie/sem/13-03-2007/search-marketing-world-free-clinics-not-so-free/#comment-1454 Thu, 15 Mar 2007 09:46:58 +0000 http://www.redcardinal.ie/sem/13-03-2007/search-marketing-world-free-clinics-not-so-free/#comment-1454 I was very interested to read your comments but I have to say that I disagree with a number of points you make. To me, it would be quite reasonable for someone to sponsor such clinics since there is every chance the sponsor may generate revenue from the sessions. Also I feel your accusations that the organisers are trying to pull the wool over delegate eye’s is unsubstantiated. By reading their description of the clinics I would presume there is some sort of commercial element. The term “no obligation consultation”, says to me that this is a professional company touting their services and if you like what they say you can sign up for it. When I looked at the site, to me, all the sponsors were clearly listed down the right hand column, I would presume that any sponsor of the clinics would also be listed. We live and work in a commercial world and of course this event is going to have a commercial element, the primary reason most people are attending is to gain more visibility for their site and therefore more revenue.

Overall given the list of speakers, topics and attendees, this looks a very exciting event. The first of it’s kind in Ireland. Hopefully your conspiracy theories will not do anything to damage the name of the event.

]]> By: Kenhttp://www.redcardinal.ie/sem/13-03-2007/search-marketing-world-free-clinics-not-so-free/#comment-1451 Wed, 14 Mar 2007 16:34:43 +0000 http://www.redcardinal.ie/sem/13-03-2007/search-marketing-world-free-clinics-not-so-free/#comment-1451 Wow! I just had another look at the speakers list. Perm TSB? Cybercom? Ican? Oh dear. Being the one who actually recommended that two of my superiors attend with me, I’m going to be forced to compile a ‘s**tlist’ of blaggers for them to avoid before we go. More’s the pity.

]]> By: Dave Davishttp://www.redcardinal.ie/sem/13-03-2007/search-marketing-world-free-clinics-not-so-free/#comment-1447 Tue, 13 Mar 2007 14:13:06 +0000 http://www.redcardinal.ie/sem/13-03-2007/search-marketing-world-free-clinics-not-so-free/#comment-1447 Well, all of our web design clients are VERY loyal and they fill me in on all the cold calls they receive. There are two outfits that call literally ALL our clients and push and SEO sell pretty hard on them.

I also know for a FACT that at least one has no clue what they are doing. I would be worried that a company like this would be manning the clinic and pushing their services being detrimental to the purpose of the event.

I am really looking forward to two of the events. One of them being “Selecting your Search Engine Marketing Provider”. I can only wonder what sort of sales pitch everyone is going to get now.

]]> By: Richard Hearnehttp://www.redcardinal.ie/sem/13-03-2007/search-marketing-world-free-clinics-not-so-free/#comment-1446 Tue, 13 Mar 2007 14:04:03 +0000 http://www.redcardinal.ie/sem/13-03-2007/search-marketing-world-free-clinics-not-so-free/#comment-1446 Hi Dave

No. I’m happy for the purposes of full disclosure to state that I didn’t sponsor myself.

The alarm bells went off the minute I received the offer. And being honest, I don’t like the way this is being marketed at all. I just hope that it’s a matter of two steps forward and one step back and not vice-versa.

Rgds
Richard

]]> By: Dave Davishttp://www.redcardinal.ie/sem/13-03-2007/search-marketing-world-free-clinics-not-so-free/#comment-1452 Tue, 13 Mar 2007 13:56:01 +0000 http://www.redcardinal.ie/sem/13-03-2007/search-marketing-world-free-clinics-not-so-free/#comment-1452 Interesting. I was under the impression that the staff of interactive return would be running these clinics and/or paying others.

I fully agree. I am sure most attendees will not be aware of this and I cannot help to to think that there will be some serious agenda pushing from the SEO doctors.

Did you end up paying to be an “SEO doctor”?

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