Welcome our webmaster and SEO forum
Please enjoy the forum, contribute what you can, and wind up the Moderators!
Closed Thread
Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Search Engine Optimization - Ethical?

  1. #1
    espmartin's Avatar
    espmartin is offline Senior Member espmartin will become famous soon enough
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    West Coast, USA (California)
    Posts
    625

    Default Search Engine Optimization - Ethical?

    There is a heated discussion going on at another forum, and
    the topic was centered around the question, "is selling links
    ethical?"

    Now, I don't want to start a simular "heated discussion" about
    how, if we don't complying with Google's "nofollow your links,
    or your not going to like it" stand, but some users brought
    up an interesting statement about SEO.

    They mentioned that duing SEO in general IS manipulating
    search results. What do you all feel about that last statement?

    Is SEO (manipulating a site to gain in SERPs) an ethics question?
    (Not talking blackhat).

  2. #2
    vicdigi's Avatar
    vicdigi is offline Senior Member vicdigi has a spectacular aura about vicdigi has a spectacular aura about
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Posts
    520

    Default

    I think the word MANIPULATE is entirely the wrong word to use.

    SEO is called SEO for a reason. All the search engines recognise this therefore all webmasters recognise this.

    SEO is there for a reason. To not MANIPULATE search engines (blackhat) writing of a site.

  3. #3
    stock_post's Avatar
    stock_post is offline Senior Member stock_post will become famous soon enough
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    www.DotRig.com
    Posts
    175

    Default

    Whitehat is ethical! in my openion
    Bidding King | Bid For Rank | Bid For Level | ayhu.com | dotrig.com| nwkk.com | tradein.biz

  4. #4
    SkinnerW's Avatar
    SkinnerW is offline Senior Member SkinnerW is just really nice SkinnerW is just really nice SkinnerW is just really nice SkinnerW is just really nice SkinnerW is just really nice
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Moscow - New York
    Posts
    992

    Default

    If there is a buyer - there always be a seller, no matter what it is. Google created high demand commodity - page rank. Who ever was smart and fast enough capitalized on it.

    Now they are trying to clean up theirs own mess. Until they come up with different algorithm how to evaluate and rank websites links still will be sold and bought.

    There is nothing illegal or unethical about it.
    Advanced CMS software with directory, blog, classifieds and portal features

  5. #5
    OldDarkstarAccount is offline Senior Member OldDarkstarAccount is a name known to all OldDarkstarAccount is a name known to all OldDarkstarAccount is a name known to all OldDarkstarAccount is a name known to all OldDarkstarAccount is a name known to all OldDarkstarAccount is a name known to all
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    566

    Default

    That is called business. Online business more exactly. You are not forced to use Google services as they are not forced to keep your site in a certain position on their result pages.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Posts
    57

    Default

    Is SEO (manipulating a site to gain in SERPs) an ethics question?
    (Not talking blackhat).
    Not at all when it comes to recognised complient SEO, it is purley a business deal. It is manipulation of the website in order to better results in the SERPs. This is beneficial to both parties, the site owner gains a better ranking and the SE has more relevant content making them more usable, sticky, relevant.

    IMO
    SEO, SEM and Usability studies, independant consultant.

  7. #7
    Resonate's Avatar
    Resonate is offline Internet Marketing Admin Resonate is a jewel in the rough Resonate is a jewel in the rough Resonate is a jewel in the rough
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    {{ A Remote Server }}
    Posts
    536

    Default

    I have read that thread & OMG how its huge, yet i noticed that both sides of the argument sorry diplomatic discussion is very even sided with some excellent points.
    BOO!!!!!! IM BACK!!!

    W3Poker Free Online Poker Strategy Blog : Poker Seo : Free Poker Money

  8. #8
    loredan's Avatar
    loredan is offline Senior Member loredan is on a distinguished road
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    London, UK
    Posts
    134

    Default

    SEO is not manipulating but is optimizing a website for search engines. Nothing wrong with that...

  9. #9
    OldDarkstarAccount is offline Senior Member OldDarkstarAccount is a name known to all OldDarkstarAccount is a name known to all OldDarkstarAccount is a name known to all OldDarkstarAccount is a name known to all OldDarkstarAccount is a name known to all OldDarkstarAccount is a name known to all
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    566

    Default

    If we say manipulating we can think of black hat. Loredan's statement is true.

  10. #10
    espmartin's Avatar
    espmartin is offline Senior Member espmartin will become famous soon enough
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    West Coast, USA (California)
    Posts
    625

    Default

    Definitions of manipulating are:
    ma·nip·u·lat·ed, ma·nip·u·lat·ing, ma·nip·u·lates
    1. To move, arrange, operate, or control by the hands or by mechanical means, especially in a skillful manner: She manipulated the lights to get just the effect she wanted.
    2. To influence or manage shrewdly or deviously: He manipulated public opinion in his favor.
    3. To tamper with or falsify for personal gain: tried to manipulate stock prices.
    Now, #2 and #3 is not what I'm referring to, but I'm using it as defined in #1:
    1. To move, arrange, operate, or control by the hands or by mechanical means, especially in a skillful manner
    Once you create a web page. All is fine. But you get no traffic. So what do you do?
    You begin by doing SEO - off-page and on-page, right? So, once you add meta tags,
    nofollow, look at keyword density (and add to it, subtract from it)...you are now -
    NOT for the advantage of the user, but for the SEs - manipulating (as defined in #1
    above) your markup on-page for better results in SEs.

Closed Thread

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

     

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts

Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124