And the fun just keeps coming.. Take a look at this new thread over at webworkshop.. http://www.webworkshop.net/seoforum/viewtopic.php?t=11243..

But then when we go to his website that he wants help with we find this little bit of knowledge on this page..

http://www.worldcomexc.com/startupbusiness/web_optimization

Why do these people keep doing this?? Do they think that if they pretend to have a clue that they will be able to make a quick buck?? Do they just not get it?? Or are they really scam artists that assume that there are enough people out there that will give them money without checking up on them??

In either case, these people need to be outed.. They need a hall of shame.. Maybe I should put that URL I bought to use after all..

Fey~

The great guys at O’Reilly have applied for a trademark for the term Web 2.0.. And they’ve already started sending out cease and desist letters to people using the term..

Tim claims to have invented the term in an article with MediaLive International.. While this may be the case, I find it interesting on several levels..

1st. Since when does taking a common word (web) and slapping a standard software naming convention on it (2.0.1.a) make the term unique enough to claim a trademark??

2nd. Didn’t Tim make his money by building on the work of others to begin with?? Didn’t his entire publishing empire find it’s birth in providing manuls of other people’s work?? I wonder how many of those people saw donations from O’Reilly..

3rd. It’s simply bad form.. Here is a ‘hero’ of open source doing exactly the opposite in the name of profit..

I suppose it wouldn’t bother quite as much if he was actually holding the trademark.. But he isn’t.. He is simply holding an application for a trademark.. Welcome to the Darkside Tim, you’ll find the caviar and cigars over there on the ivory tables..

Fey ~

That didn’t take very long.. Now we have a person selling SEO services coming in and askingfor free help, and then getting upset when no one responds to him immediatly because he has a deadline to meet.. Unfortunately, he is just a little smart and decided to delete his frist post here http://www.webworkshop.net/seoforum/viewtopic.php?t=11229 I guess I need to take a hint from Matt Cutts and start screen shotting these guys for future reference..

He goes on to continue to ask for advice here http://www.webworkshop.net/seoforum/viewtopic.php?t=11157.. This seems to be pretty basic information for someone that is billed as an expert in part of a large network of experts here http://www.repeatsoft.com/network.htm..

Now I don’t have a problem with people learning.. And I support everyone that goes out and learns all they can.. But, when you are selling your services you had better be very sure that you are worth your rate.. Because I don’t think it’s right for you to expect your clients to pay you to learn.. Especially when you come to a forum and demand that people help you right away becasue you have a dealine to meet..

Fey ~

They are everywhere, and continue to grow.. You know the guys, the ones that promise you the world then don’t deliver.. Some have even gotten so arrogant as to go into business without knowing anything at all.. Nothing.. Zip.. Zero.. Nadda..

Take this guy here http://www.webworkshop.net/seoforum/viewtopic.php?t=11156.. His thread question is about the most basic of things.. How to get one way IBLs and get high rankings in the search engines.. In itself, a normal question for someone just startin gout in SEO.. But take a look at his sig link (which will probaly soon be deleted so I’ll just put it here in plain text to avoid sharing any link juice).. SEOInfosys.com..

His website claims, among other things,

SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION:
we employ proven Search Engine Optimization techniques to rank our client’s websites in the top positions on all of the major search engines and directories. We know what it takes for top search engine rankings .Our program is a high end search engine optimization program

And the wonderful domain info:

Domain Name: SEOINFOSYS.COM
Registrar: DIRECT INFORMATION PVT LTD D/B/A PUBLICDOMAINREGISTRY.COM
Whois Server: whois.PublicDomainRegistry.com
Referral URL: http://www.PublicDomainRegistry.com
Name Server: NS1.DNSGEM.COM
Name Server: NS2.DNSGEM.COM
Status: ACTIVE
Updated Date: 28-mar-2006
Creation Date: 25-mar-2006
Expiration Date: 25-mar-2007

Hmm, created on Mar 26 - 2006 and asking how to do basic SEO on May 10 - 2006..

Now, why would an SEO be asking a basic question like this?? Simple.. He doesn’t have a clue.. And he’s just out to take your money.. There are a lot of good guys out there, but scum like this really needs to be outed to the world.. I guess it’s time to start banging away at them..

What say you??

Fey

Last week a report on CNN stated that a Chinese citizen was arrested, convicted, and jailed for four years for “incitement to subvert state power”.. This in itself is nothing new.. What is new is that a US based search engine company has been named in court documents as providing evidence that helped convict the “dissident”..

But it wasn’t Google.. It was Yahoo.. And this isn’t the first time that Yahoo has helped to jail a political activist in China.. This is the fourth to be documented.. Apparently Wang Xiaoning created a Yahoo Group called aaabbbccc helped lead to his conviction..

While I find the entire situation unnerving in this day and age, what I find even more telling is the total lack of response from the activists here in the states.. Where ar the people that were protesting Google’s agreement to censor data from their search results for Chinese citizens?? Where are the vehement forum postings about Google doing “no evil”?? Why are these people silent??

My guess, Yahoo isn’t the media darling that Google is and therefore isn’t a worthy target.. Why go after a company that won’t get you on the front page for a real political crime when you can get all sorts of air time by going after someone that is popular right now?? Is it a double standrad for the activists to behave this way?? Or is this normal behavior for many of them?? The “I only protest when I can be seen on TV” activist?? Or more likely, it’s not about forcing real change, but doing what makes them feel good about themselves for the moment..

Fey~