SeoPros "best practices" are a guideline
used in reviewing Firms for a listing in the directory and setting
Professional standards for business practices by the Members of SeoPros.
Search engines determine what spam is, not SeoPros. Keep in mind, what may
be fine for one, may not be for another.The following articles are
authored by Alan Perkins, he has devoted a lot of time and resources to the
defining and research of search engine spam.
For this reason Alan has been cited here many times. He is not an SeoPros
Member and the articles below are in the opinion of this editor some of the
best resources available on the subject.
The Classification of Search Engine Spam:
Possibly the definitive paper on search engine
spam not written by a search engine.
Why Cloaking is Always a
Bad Idea: Alan discusses what is and isn't cloaking and why it
is a practice that should be avoided.
SEO : Sleepwalking
Ever Onwards? Discussion about whitehat vs. blackhat techniques.
Search
Marketing Techniques, Deceptive Advertising Laws & Other Laws:
Allan discusses the possibility that some SEO techniques may be
unlawful because of deceptive advertising, trespass and
accessibility laws in many countries.
ODP Promotion Ethics and Standards: Link to a topic on ODP with some
good articles on Search Engine Spam and Industry Ethics.
The
Search Engine Spam Police: Search Day article with excerpts from SES
where SE reps discuss spam.
SEO/M Courses and Certificate Programs Currently Endorsed by OSEOP/SeoPros
The courses below have been endorsed by OSEOP and SeoPros and are based on
unsolicited evaluation by members of SeoPros. The evaluations are based on
the information included, quality of the teachers and tools/materials
included with instruction in the course of study.
There were no cash payments of any kind nor is there any affiliation between
these Organizations and SeoPros or OSEOP, however, a number of the faculty
and materials are members of SeoPros. The Organizations were not aware they
were being evaluated by our members to insure they were unbiased opinions of
students.
Search Engine College: Kal Jordan is College Administrator
and SeoPros Members Bob Gladstein, Dan Thies and Chris Dimmock
are some of the trainers or content contributors to these online courses.
SEO
Research Labs: Dan Thies is Administrator for the courses.
Course includes techniques for building and growing an SEO/M
business, managing customer expectations, optimization
techniques and keyword marketing.
Information Sites
Below are recommended resources,
references and tutorials for search
engine marketing and optimization information. It is recommended that anyone using
any other references be sure to verify the info you get at a
second resource and read other articles by the author to
determine the authors expertise. Keep in mind that this is the
internet, just because it was printed, doesn't necessarily make
it accurate or true, including, this and the list below!:)
For the most part these were
chosen because we feel confident their information is accurate
and researched thoroughly. There are plenty of other good
references, be selective, and use the suggestion above as a
guide to what to use and discard.
SearchEngineWatch:
Danny Sullivan's original site features his and other
knowledgeable professionals excellent collection of articles on
a number of Search Marketing issues and techniques.
Search Engine Guide: Edited by Robert Clough SEG is an
excellent source of tutorials and techniques for beginner
and intermediate information. The site also provides a wealth of general information
on searching and search engines.
Pandia Search
Central: A guide to Internet searching and search engine
Marketing
High Rankings Advisor: Edited by Jill Whalen the Advisor is
a well written informative resource for SEO's and site owners
looking for the real deal! Includes a companion newsletter.
Email Newsletters and Discussion Groups
There are many SEO/SEM
newsletters and ezines the warning preceding would apply to most
of these as well. Learn to distinguish what is advertising and
what is truly information. Don't assume that the information
isn't biased by products and services provided by the
publishers!
SearchDay: is a free daily newsletter from Search Engine Watch
featuring web search news, reviews, tools, tips, and search
engine headlines from across the web.
SearchEngineLand: Danny Sullivan is the man behind the
curtain here with a number of the old guard from SEW. The
quality of the writers and topics are the best out there.
Forums and Discussion Boards
Although there are a number of
discussion boards and fora on this subject we only list 4
which we know discourage "inappropriate" techniques. All the
others though useful for the most part do not discourage the
propagation of "inappropriate" techniques.
IHY Best Practices Forums Owned by Doug Heil these forums
provide quick answers to the tough questions with zero tolerance
for anything that isn't "best practices". A great place to
report "inappropriate" SEO activity or out a bad company or
search to find if a SEO company has been discussed.
High Rankings
Search Engine Optimization Forum: Jill Whalen's forum
features a number of knowledgeable Mods and participants all
showing you how to make your site be the best it can be for
Search Engines and users! Alan Perkins is a frequent
contributor/Mod and if you have spam questions he usually speaks
up with excellent advice.
cre8asite forums
Though not as busy as some forums these are still worth a visit.
Cre8asite features knowledgeable Mods in the fields of
optimization, design and usability.
Directories and SEO/SEM Organizations
Below is a short list of other
suggested directories and Professional Organizations. We have
only included organizations which are SEO/SEM centric. Other
Organizations have SEO's included but are not only for
Professional SEO's and SEM's. They include all forms of Internet Marketing
and are not reviewed.
1.
SeoConsultants.com: Owned by Edward Lewis this a searchable
list of reputable SEO's that have been reviewed before including
them in the directory. Also includes general information on SEO/SEM.
2. SEMPO:
Search Engine Marketing Professionals Organization, providing
excellent information on search engine marketing. Includes a directory of Search Engine
Marketers that haven't been reviewed before listing.
Optimization and Browser Simulator Programs
Spider Simulator: A useful program which will show you what
your site looks like to a spider. Includes word counts for
keyword density info.
