Do We Need SEO Standards?

[janeth]

If SEO standards are going into the area of all SEO's need to be able to program. I think they should have to have a degree in programming.

And since they now have to have a degree in programming I think they should also have to have a degree in the English language. They will have to write text. And since they might one day do a site for someone in another country they should have to have a degree in that language as well.

And let's not forget and art degree. We don't want any ugly websites. And a degree in graphic programming so they can put that art degree to work.

And don't forget the marketing degree.

[Peter (IMC)]

Originally Posted by janeth

If SEO standards are going into the area of all SEO's need to be able to program. I think they should have to have a degree in programming.

And since they now have to have a degree in programming I think they should also have to have a degree in the English language. They will have to write text. And since they might one day do a site for someone in another country they should have to have a degree in that language as well.

And let's not forget and art degree. We don't want any ugly websites. And a degree in graphic programming so they can put that art degree to work.

And don't forget the marketing degree.

I agree, I get all those and then I'll charge $2500 per hour.

[janeth]

Originally Posted by Peter (IMC)

I agree, I get all those and then I'll charge $2500 per hour.

Don't forget to add in your online law degree.

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by janeth

If SEO standards are going into the area of all SEO's need to be able to program. I think they should have to have a degree in programming.

And since they now have to have a degree in programming I think they should also have to have a degree in the English language. They will have to write text. And since they might one day do a site for someone in another country they should have to have a degree in that language as well.

And let's not forget and art degree. We don't want any ugly websites. And a degree in graphic programming so they can put that art degree to work.

And don't forget the marketing degree.

And, let's not forget the degree in mathematics, with concentrations in partial differential equations, vector analysis and statistics, so that one can properly and adequately measure their proficiencies vis-a-vis the "standards."

Of course, by the time one acquires all of those degrees, the world as we now know it will be no more!

[janeth]

Originally Posted by deepsand

And, let's not forget the degree in mathematics, with concentrations in partial differential equations, vector analysis and statistics, so that one can properly and adequately measure their proficiencies vis-a-vis the "standards."

Of course, by the time one acquires all of those degrees, the world as we now know it will be no more!

I forgot about the mathematics degree. That one should be at the top of the list.

[janeth]

It appears the whole thing is being put into place.

SEO Trademark - The Official Response to the Search Engine Marketing Community

[1dmf]

Good Luck with that!

Funny how it seems the SEO's don't want to have to 'qualify' to do their job, yet nearly ever profession i know has a standard 'educational' requirement.

I guess most just aren't capable or can't be bothered, I come across alot that don't even understand that American is not English, and seings as part of SEO is keywords/phrases, you'd think they would appreciate the importance of the spelling and target audience.

I got approached by an SEO company with a UK office, offering me a keyphrase which included the word 'Advisor' , and who says SEO's don't need a qualification!

But mine is not to reason why I guess, just refuse to employ or take services from the daily bombardment of SEO's who constantly keep knocking on my website door!

[Peter (IMC)]

Originally Posted by 1dmf

Good Luck with that!

Funny how it seems the SEO's don't want to have to 'qualify' to do their job, yet nearly ever profession i know has a standard 'educational' requirement.

I guess most just aren't capable or can't be bothered, I come across alot that don't even understand that American is not English, and seings as part of SEO is keywords/phrases, you'd think they would appreciate the importance of the spelling and target audience.

I got approached by an SEO company with a UK office, offering me a keyphrase which included the word 'Advisor' , and who says SEO's don't need a qualification!

But mine is not to reason why I guess, just refuse to employ or take services from the daily bombardment of SEO's who constantly keep knocking on my website door!

SEO is an experienced based job. In my company all people doing SEO have the qualifications to build websites. They have their diplomas in HTML and CSS and also got the basics of PHP, ASP and javascript.

Now those are just requirements, if you like you can call it qualifications, but obviously, there is no school, no university, no education what so ever that teaches people how to do "SEO". The only thing that makes a good SEO is experience. Everything they know about SEO they learned inside the company. I have never a resume that showed somebody went to SEO school. At best they learned SEO on their own, because that's really the only way to learn it.

The fact that there are so many people out there that claim to be SEO's but don't really know what they are talking about is a pretty normal thing to happen if you ask me. When you hire an SEO, you´re better of hiring an SEO company. Not that individual SEO's are bad because they work on their own, nothing like that. There are plenty of SEO's working on their own that are good at what they do. But when you´re searching the service you need to find a good one. That is not as easy as it seems. How do you identify a good SEO?

Well, it helps if it is an established company that has been around for years already. That can show results of existing customers. That is located in your own country. That you can sue in case they really did a bad job. And most importantly, that's asking real prices. If you pay $100 per month for an SEO job, you will get a service that is worth $100 and not a service that is worth $500 per month.

Being cheap always bites you in the @ss.

A good point you made is that you hire a company that you found and not one that found you.

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by janeth

It appears the whole thing is being put into place.

SEO Trademark - The Official Response to the Search Engine Marketing Community

This guy, along with the USPTO, are idiots. Do either really believe that he either has a legitimate claim to the term "SEO," or that he will be succesfull in defending it?

See Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS)

Take note that this filing is now in the "Publication for Opposition" phase; if no one formally makes objection to the USTPO, it's his.

[1dmf]

lol - so once he's trademarked SEO none of you SEO's will be able to use it - lol that's so funny!

I take it there is a lot of opposition and he won't succeed? will he ?

[jabo]

there are white hat SEO practitioners and black hat implementers. we do need standards

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by 1dmf

lol - so once he's trademarked SEO none of you SEO's will be able to use it - lol that's so funny!

I take it there is a lot of opposition and he won't succeed? will he ?

Given the fact that the USPTO seemingly can't figure out what "prior art" or "prior usage" exists, it would come as no surprise if it were to grant said registration.

However, there's a great difference between having such registration and being able to successfully enforce it. In this case, any attempt to force an "infringing" party to cease using the term "SEO" would undoubtedly result in a counterclaim that the registration is invalid, owing to said term having been in common use prior to the claimant's filing, such that it now in the public domain.

[janeth]

Originally Posted by 1dmf

lol - so once he's trademarked SEO none of you SEO's will be able to use it - lol that's so funny!

I take it there is a lot of opposition and he won't succeed? will he ?

Check this out SEO Trademark Registration by Jason Gambert | Rhea Drysdale

According to the blog this was the last day to stop this guy and guess how many people showed up, two. Two people showed up to try and stop the guy.

If Jason Gambert and that is Mr. Gambert to all you SEO's out there, gets it you will have to pay him and get permission from him to be an SEO.

This no name guy just became the biggest player in the SEO industry.

lol

It is not finial yet but it is looking good for Jason. I can call him Jason because I am not in the SEO industry.

[deepsand]

As noted earlier, "However, there's a great difference between having such registration and being able to successfully enforce it. In this case, any attempt to force an "infringing" party to cease using the term "SEO" would undoubtedly result in a counterclaim that the registration is invalid, owing to said term having been in common use prior to the claimant's filing, such that it now in the public domain."

I very seriously doubt that Jason will realize much beyond his 15 minutes of fame from this endeavor.

By the way, one need not appear in person in order in order to formally oppose such filings.

[she-ra]

janeth - FYI, I reported only two people have filed a Notice of Opposition, but I've been corrected, there were at least three: SEOmoz, ArteWorks and myself. I suspect there were at least two others as well, but I'm waiting for confirmation from those parties.

[janeth]

Originally Posted by deepsand

As noted earlier, "However, there's a great difference between having such registration and being able to successfully enforce it. In this case, any attempt to force an "infringing" party to cease using the term "SEO" would undoubtedly result in a counterclaim that the registration is invalid, owing to said term having been in common use prior to the claimant's filing, such that it now in the public domain."

I very seriously doubt that Jason will realize much beyond his 15 minutes of fame from this endeavor.

By the way, one need not appear in person in order in order to formally oppose such filings.

I hope you are correct, while it was a very slick move it should not be the way to get ahead.

[janeth]

Originally Posted by she-ra

janeth - FYI, I reported only two people have filed a Notice of Opposition, but I've been corrected, there were at least three: SEOmoz, ArteWorks and myself. I suspect there were at least two others as well, but I'm waiting for confirmation from those parties.

I still can not believe with all the blogs talking about it and the forums posting about it that only three people tried to stop it.

It is even more upsetting when deepsand says that to oppose it you did not even have to show up in person.

[janeth]

Now the guy is suing ArteWorks SEO CEO Matt Foster and Gambert implies that he has the support of a number of industry leaders, including Danny Sullivan and Doug Heil.

Search Engine Optimization News, Tips and Information: SEO Trademark Dispute Gets Ugly

This is better than a soap opera

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by janeth

Now the guy is suing ArteWorks SEO CEO Matt Foster and Gambert implies that he has the support of a number of industry leaders, including Danny Sullivan and Doug Heil.

Search Engine Optimization News, Tips and Information: SEO Trademark Dispute Gets Ugly

This is better than a soap opera

It's pure theatre.

What remains to be seen is what Jason's true motives are for having 1) engaged in such a trivial undertaking, one that is ultimately doomed to fail; and, 2) why he should now be publicly be so vocal and uncivil.

From his own statements, it is clear that this is not a person given to either keeping his powder dry or even taking careful aim before firing. Rather, he is an obnoxious loose cannon.

Can't wait to see the next act.

Now, where's my popcorn?