(8)
I have to say I am completely shocked by the results of a poll I ran a few weeks ago asking would you report search spammers to Google.
Three years ago, we ran a similar poll, soon after Google began pushing SEOs and others to report spam to them, where less than 30% would report spam to Google. I totally expected the poll to reverse, where 70% would say they would report spam to Google. I was wrong.
That number only jumped up by 6-7 points, where 36% said they would now report spam to Google. 60% said they would not report spam to Google.
I am really all for an industry standing behind each other - so I am a bit happy to see this, to be honest. Loyalty is good to see. Of course, if this was illegal, that would be a different story. I would hope if I ran another poll asking if you would report hacked sites, 100% of you would say yes. Take our poll on that question over here.
Forum discussion continued at Sphinn.
Note: This story was written earlier this week and scheduled to be published today.
Comments:
zacpalmer
06/09/2011 12:47 pm
Maybe its because most SEO's ARE Spammers and they believe in the Golden Rule - Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. :-) They don't want to be outed themselves... SO they don't out others...
SearchStar
06/09/2011 01:27 pm
Maybe its also because there is no visible action that arises from reporting spam & paid links to Google. We fill in the form & then get a computer generated email but then generally nothing happens. Google adds to its learning but rarely takes direct action that would directly incentivise reporting
Live Tv Channels
06/09/2011 03:11 pm
That is a good research. Thanks Sir
Michael J. Kovis
06/09/2011 03:13 pm
Maybe those results can be looked as that still 60% of SEO's use black hat methods for their clients to be successful. I honestly have no problem stating that I would report a spammer or webmaster guidelines violation in a heartbeat and I have done so before. Why should I put a lot of time, effort and money into a project when another SEO can just go out and "cheat" their way to the top?
Ian Williams
06/09/2011 03:31 pm
Siege mentality
LordManley
06/09/2011 04:22 pm
I find it hard to understand why any self respecting skilled individual would resort to slating their competition in order to further their own aims. I understand the cowboys doing it, but for a professional it smacks of lack of ability and petulance. This discussion is one I hear a lot of, but frankly we are better than this and should be ashamed. I do not buy links ever and never have, but I do not blame those who do, it is an easy way to gain rankings. I set myself a harder task by being white hat and that is my choice. Reporting those who are shadier is not conducive to white hat behaviour and is something which only black hats should be doing.
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06/10/2011 08:32 am
Amazing report but i think the method of google is not too perfect and accurate and google will lose it popularity with the time .So i don't know that what will be the future of SEO.
Mayme Lalinde
03/25/2012 08:10 pm
Well I would feel uneasy doing it as well because we are all trying to do well online.