SEO Competition Cancelled
Hmm, I get no pleasure from this, no pleasure at all. As some of the better known contributers to this blog are aware that we run a little SEO competition and score points from ranking positions across Google, Yahoo and MSN for certain keywords. Its been a harmless exercise, mostly jostling for key terms that users search for when looking for services from a search engine optimisation company.
But recently I have been getting comments and backlinks from certain areas of the net which have gave me grave concern to continue with the competition.
Now, most of you know me as being a community person, heck I’d drop a link or give advice where needed at the drop of a hat. But these negative comments and links (which you can shove where the sun don’t shine) I can do without.
I’m building a business here. A brand that will gain the rewards that I seek. A buzz, the right buzz, I have already instigated in the short few weeks that since taking the business on full time.
I have no idea what it is that they (the negative ones) are so fearful about, then again perhaps I do. You see they brand us participating as
being a top seo when actually they dont have a clue
And also go onto say
Obviously this person is pleased with placing himself at number 10 for the “top SEO” companies in Scotland!
Pfft, I’d outrank that little jumpstart anyday in a one-to-one competition if he’s interested.
But what gets me is this whole forum discussion in which the negative people excel and also scroll down to the bottom of the comments section in this post.
I put around 20 hours a month into preparing, managing and promoting the SEO competition. Not anymore. Now that time will be even better spent outranking, networking and contributing to our own companies success. So, thanks Negatori, you have just released a wounded dog from its kennel.
The mantle is there if anyone wishes to take it. Start and run your own SEO Competition and I wish you the best of luck. If you want some words of advice on how best to market it then drop me a line I’ll only be too happy to help.
I’m sorry for any participants who accordingly to the Negatori, don’t know SEO to save themselves, that have spent time on their preparation but at the end of the day those keyword searches produce traffic and leads if followed through correctly.
Can I just add a big thanks to Matt from SEOTunes, you my son are one in a million for batting my corner. I have added you to my bloglist as a sign of respect and I also ask others as well to give Matt a nod in their up and coming blog posts.
Dolphin said,
Wrote on January 30, 2008 @ 10:40 pm
Ah tits thats a bit crap.
Yeah some people did seem to take it a bit too seriously, even though every single month it is pointed out its a bit of fun. Yeah ok we all got a little extra out of it by saying we were on the list but as far as I am aware no one actually went to a client and said We are officially the best SEO company out there.
I don’t think any SEO League/Comp is a valid rank on who is the best. Look at TopSEOs for example, they bloody charge to enter! That immediately removes 99% of the SEOs out of the list.
Oh well at least the competition ended on a high. With us on top
(or 2nd international)
And before anyone slates me I don’t for one minute think we are the best SEO company in the UK.
Paul said,
Wrote on January 30, 2008 @ 10:49 pm
Sorry James I get no satisfaction from this post at all - I know it was fun and even linkbait but i cannot and will not stomach negative feedback when its not deserved.
Tom said,
Wrote on January 31, 2008 @ 12:01 am
Hi mate,
Can’t remember if I’ve ever commented on your blog before or not but I’ve been reading for AGES just lurking in the background
I have to admit that I really enjoyed your series and admired the way that you ran it for such a long time. Cudos to you and thanks for keeping me entertained.
With regards the negative comments - really sorry to hear that you’ve been getting some haters. My only advice would be to take it as a compliment since they’re only being negative because they’re jealous of the respect that your ranking lists are getting. The more popular you get the more people dislike you. Unfortunately it’s the negative ones who are vocal about their dislike while people like me who lurk in the shadows but really appreciate what you’ve done stay quiet.
I look forward to reading your blog in the future.
Tom
Paul said,
Wrote on January 31, 2008 @ 12:16 am
Tom thanks for the kind words. TBH I can do without the neg press and if the competition is bringing it in then I can do without that.
I just am so bloomin’ angry at the OP for her lack of understanding. We have been running it for over 8 months and a lot of guys and gals did this in their own time.
James said,
Wrote on January 31, 2008 @ 12:26 am
Yeah I understand your decision, and I don’t blame you.
I can see where some negative comments from a lot of companies trade off their rankings rather than skills a bit too much.
However for a lot of us smaller/newer companies we cant rely on just word of mouth / reputation most of our clients are still gained through the search engines and any extra publicity is always good.
Luckily referrals are increasing all the time and I hope they will be the major source of our clients in the future. Though to be honest long terms objective is to just to do promotions on our own sites/joint ventures. Saves all that client malarkey.
James said,
Wrote on January 31, 2008 @ 12:30 am
@Tom So when people call me a fat drunk its just cos they are jealous?
Ace, I was getting worried.
Paul said,
Wrote on January 31, 2008 @ 1:02 am
@ James — what you saying your fat now?
Richard Dewick said,
Wrote on January 31, 2008 @ 9:59 am
Sorry to hear about the negative comments and the fact you’ve had to stop the comp Paul. Go get em tiger
kay said,
Wrote on January 31, 2008 @ 12:42 pm
im the original op and i just wanted to say i feel quite bad that our banter was actually causing real upset and caused you to close the competition.
things like this will always attract attention, its not necessarily clear that its a ‘harmless exercise’ depending on where you land. i think you should try not to overreact though. the thing with link bait is that you invite links and comments, the more attention you attract the better but if you throw in the towel when comments are not all complementary its almost like you are backing down (or spitting your dummy out). the thread on wws will be buried in weeks and whats the opinion of a few other seo’s?
while my opinions might not change about what message the competition might send to others that dont know its ‘just a bit of fun’, I didn’t actually take it all that seriously. Our buddy Matt at seotunes will confirm that at least
So for what its worth, sorry dude!
Good luck in your future efforts though, I’m on the net 24/7 and I wish I could free up another 20 hours a month to spend on my competitive seo!
Matt Davies said,
Wrote on January 31, 2008 @ 2:33 pm
Hi Paul,
Just heading out so can’t say much. It’s a shame you feel you should close the competition down, but if that’s what you feel i right. I wouldn’t worry about that forum post though. Anyone who honestly fails to see the value in ranking for competitive keyphrases is a bit blind. Arguing whether over it makes you the ‘best’ is all just semantics really, as to most potential clients it is impressive, and certainly suggests that the company they’re with knows what it’s doing.
Paul said,
Wrote on January 31, 2008 @ 2:34 pm
Kay, it wasn’t just you there where a few others as well. I’m a young company and I don’t want anything negative attached to ourselves as we are growing.
The league was fun. time to move on to bigger and better things eh?
Paul said,
Wrote on January 31, 2008 @ 2:37 pm
Thanks Matt, you are a cool guy and I liked your ending post in the debate. I can only offer link juice for the mo - perhaps some day I can get to buy you a beer.
SpostareDuro said,
Wrote on January 31, 2008 @ 3:27 pm
Paul,
Let the negativity act as a reassurance to you not a hindrance.
We should actually feel pity for those that are so bored or otherwise miserable that they have nothing better to do than to add hatefulness to the world we live in (which is already so contaminated with it!)
You do a fine job. You are a fine person.
Suck it up and spit it out.
Search engine marketing: White Hat Media said,
Wrote on January 31, 2008 @ 4:22 pm
Too bad you are stopping this little SEO competition. I think it was a great idea and an interesting way of getting traffic to your site!
Well done anyway for that competition.
Paul said,
Wrote on January 31, 2008 @ 5:27 pm
@ Kimberly, always look on the bright side
LOL at “Suck it up and spit it out.”
@ White Hat, Thanks
Hobo said,
Wrote on January 31, 2008 @ 7:52 pm
Hi Paul
As far as i am concerned those jokers on the forum have done me out of a free Jim Boykin video and 12 more decent links LOL
As for the detractors on the forum who say seo companies shouldn’t have rankings, that is very very funny. LOL
A SEO company who sells seo services saying “our seo positions don’t matter” - buy our services, in other words, but we don’t use them because they are not effective LOL. We’ll always have good rankings, or we’ll open up a gardening store.
Another point - this competition was a bit of fun - did anybody really take it that seriously? It was good for a bit of pride and brand building - getting on LARGELY the industry’s map, not customers. It was ideal fr smaller companies to get a look in.
What’s funnier though is the nagatori seemed to think we/I was applying resources to this thing Ha Ha LOL - does anybody really think I had staff trying to win this? LOL. This was all me… in my free time at 2 in the morning. Yes I am sad. My team thought I was an mad idiot.
As far as the time it took to achieve decent rankings, lets just say it is easier than contributing thousands of forum posts and actually moderating a forum, so I am not clear on what the difference is. I was a bit disappointed that moderators of that forum seemed to fan the flames although I would like to think the fiery forum mod who kicked it all off didn’t intend to harm you or anybody’s business. Again, I LMAO when i saw people mentioning the time it takes - right beside Posts - 6000+ - that made my day.
The fact is I am obsessed with seo, and this was one competition you could take part in and enjoy without spamming the hell out of blogs with Globalwarmingwhatever, or using clients sites as guinea pigs or publishing sensitive information. It was also quite interesting sizing up the competition.
Saying that Paul “made up” the points based system to benefit himself or others was preposterous, hurtful and disappointing - and these targets have been published online for is it 8 months or so, it was a very open competition.
Paul this competition was a success. You singlehandedly nurtured an acorn of a seo community in Scotland - and brought some seo together. As a result you’ve made a lot of pals in the local seo industry, and now it’s time to move on.
Good luck with the future linkbait, I’m sure I’ll be linking in.
Lets all kiss and make up and get that trip to Blackpool organised - perhaps Kay can join us
Paul said,
Wrote on January 31, 2008 @ 8:18 pm
Cheers Shaun, yeah lets get that Blackpool trip sorted, yeehah!
James said,
Wrote on January 31, 2008 @ 8:54 pm
F*** yeah, don’t expect me to be sober or make any sense if you come to Blackpool.
Forgot to make any enquiries for you, erm Ill try and remember tomorrow
David Eaves said,
Wrote on February 1, 2008 @ 6:24 am
Never, just dropped in to see how I was did this month. This is a shame. That moron, with the 3 blogspot blogs does not have a clue and Fedaykin is just a miserable git. None of these guys have what it takes to compete in UK SEO. I think most of us know that rankings are important and without them you stand very little chance of getting any business. Potential clients look for SEO companies who can rank their own sites. When your site ranks well they will trust you a lot more. The 1st six months for SEOCO were no picnic I can tell you, I had to cold call for business and getting peoples trust was a nightmare. The poeple who have a problem with this are probably jealous.
Bill Marshall said,
Wrote on February 1, 2008 @ 12:57 pm
Sorry to read all this Paul, the whole thing was always light-hearted and seems to have created a good little community of Scottish SEOs. I doubt if anyone seriously tried to game the competition; we all have our own keywords that we favour and none of us have time to spare. It was great to be included occasionally in the top ten but not to be taken too seriously.
Best of luck with whatever ideas you come up with next.
Paul said,
Wrote on February 1, 2008 @ 1:43 pm
@ David and Bill, cheers
Ach, well it was fun while it lasted. I’m sure someone will be bringing out something pretty soon to get those soft hooks inserted.
kay said,
Wrote on February 4, 2008 @ 11:11 am
well never fear, i thought i should let you all know im launching an seo competition at webworkshop for top regional seo search terms..
sorry, bad joke
still cringing at my initial reaction to this
the link was sent to me at a bad time, i was ill and had been at a computer screen 20 hours a day for too long. seems its quite easy to push my button sometimes.
blackpool is half an hour away from me but i dont think i fancy being pushed off the big one thanks.
Put Your Positions Where Your (Big) Mouth Is said,
Wrote on February 5, 2008 @ 1:53 pm
[…] in an unfortunate turn of events that eventually led to the closing of the North South Media Top SEO’s Contest. A friend of mine over at WebWorkShop.net asked for opinions regarding the contest after coming […]
Paul said,
Wrote on February 9, 2008 @ 11:48 pm
Kay don’t be daft, it’s just one of those things. It has led to various other posts, however, and that’s what I think is great about it all - it has sparked discussion.
Mike said,
Wrote on February 18, 2008 @ 11:18 am
Hey mate, thats a shame that you’ve been forced to give up the ranking charts. I thought it was a nice little piece of fun that kept people interested. Was a cool idea for a regular post to make some content that came out at the same time every month and got people coming back.
Good luck with the next idea…