The other day, I got invited to help promote an Internet marketing report. Since I don’t endorse anything I haven’t seen (unless I make it very clear that it’s a favor to a friend, etc., and I haven’t personally evaluated), I asked for a copy–and boy, was I appalled.
The model these folks were pushing was to steal content, intersperse enough meaningless blather so Google doesn’t think it’s a duplicate page, and build traffic/ad revenues.
Eeeeeeew!
I let it simmer for a couple of days, until I could respond with enough politeness to get read, and until I could find a way to talk to the part of these people that wants to be better (with a tip of the hat to my friend Bob Burg, who taught me how to do that), and then responded this morning, thusly:
“Let me know what you think, good or bad. I appreciate your opinion.”
OK, you asked. I read it over the weekend.
I’m sure you have good intentions, but frankly, I find your business model unethical. It is one very small step above splogging; the only difference is you’re adding meaningless content around someone else’s words instead of just presenting someone else’s hard work.
It devalues the Internet as a useful information medium; I’d hate to see search results be as useless as e-mail, but if people follow your model, they contribute to poor search results.
And then there’s the matter of making a buck on other people’s hard-earned intellectual property without compensating them in any way, or even asking permission, and doing so in a way that most definitely violates the Fair Use provisions of the copyright law.
I think with the intelligence and understanding of the Internet that underlies your black hat approach, you could come up with a business model that would be just as profitable and a whole lot more palatable. Come talk to me when you’ve done so.
Postscript: I got a response, quickly, that basically said, “well, that’s fine, but I disagree.” Needless to say, I won’t become her affiliate any time soon.
website builder » Blog Archive » Black-Hat Sploggers Leave a Bad Taste // Mar 18, 2008 at 6:30 pm
[...] Patrick Byers wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptThe other day, I got invited to help promote an Internet marketing report. Sicne I never endorse anyting I haven’t seen, I asked for a copy–and boy, was I appalled. The model these folks were pushing was to steal content, … [...]
Black-Hat Sploggers Leave a Bad Taste — TOP 25 Searches and keywords // Mar 18, 2008 at 7:02 pm
[...] with enough politeness to get read, and until I could find a way to talk to the part o source: Black-Hat Sploggers Leave a Bad Taste, Principled [...]
Black-Hat Sploggers Leave a Bad Taste | How to make a website // Mar 18, 2008 at 7:20 pm
[...] Patrick Byers wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptThe other day, I got invited to help promote an Internet marketing report. Sicne I never endorse anyting I haven’t seen, I asked for a copy–and boy, was I appalled. The model these folks were pushing was to steal content, … [...]
expert // Mar 19, 2008 at 4:34 pm
[...] Black-Hat Sploggers Leave a Bad Taste [...]
internet marketing tips // Mar 20, 2008 at 2:30 am
internet marketing tips…
While the world wide web continues to add article marketing web sites, we will attempt to show them to you….
A very good way to tell them that they are wrong. If I were on your shoes, I’ll do the same.
Nice to see someone with principles – thank you!
Shel, Great post, sorry I’ve only gotten around to reading it 9 months after you posted (let’s just call it a gestational period). I too have had some dealing with so-called sploggers, though I don’t know if it’s the same company. Very similar story to yours though these folks were using other people’s content and business name to try and dominate the SERPs. I’m not sure why the Internet seems to attract so many people who want to crap in their own bathwater. Not to be pessimistic but maybe it’s just human nature (I hope not).
I agree with your polite method and the content of your letter. Although they probably will not change their practices, it is frustrating that the internet is becoming harder and harder to find relevant data in the ocean of garbage!- Nate
Not support blackhat for a nice and clean internet.
Yeah, most of the information that is online now is a bunch of junk! Great article!
Just How Stupid ARE These Sploggers Anyway? // Jun 6, 2009 at 8:08 pm
[...] Both, incidentally, with the same anonymous Yahoo address. Both in “response” to a post called “Black-Hat Sploggers Leave a Bad Taste.” [...]
Exist models these folks were pushing was to steal.
Nice to know someone with hard-nut and stell-framed principles exist even in this day and age.
The internet is one big garbage bin, to find a lost diamond in this bin as like searching for the proverbial needle in the haystack
Nothing, Emerson wrote, can bring you happiness but the truimph of principles. You are an avowed advocate for that belief.
Such adherence to principles is quite a rarity in this day and age.
Reminds me of Diogenes the Cynic who went around the sunlit streets of Athens, lantern in hand, looking for an honest man. This type of principled stand would have pleased him.
Twitter: @nho99
Using blackhat strategy is not a good idea
Oh wow! The content of their website is purely unethical, but the way that dude responded to your email is unbelievable!
Even if this is the internet world, we have a “netiquette” that we should follow.
You just made the right decision!!
I totally agree. I think that this techniques are appalling. Thanks for shedding light on the subject.
The act of “making a buck on other people’s hard-earned intellectual property without compensating them in any way, or even asking permission”, is brazen shamelessness.
your article is excellent,i really love it. hoping to read your following post
Mark Twain has said somewhere, Principles have no real force except when one is well-fed. Which is the same as saying that you cant teach principles to a hungry man.
When the telephone was invented, the need to speak eloquently therein was considered an etiquette one could not do without. Now that the net is prevalent, lack of etiquette herein is also a form of uncivility.