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.
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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
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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.” [...]