Spam SEO Company Traffic-Power, aka 1p.com, First Place, Internet Advertising Pros Options

[Jill]

You know what? In this case I'm going to break our own rules and let you post it.

I don't care any more if Traffic Power wants to sue me. They have simply crossed the line too many times and need to be stopped. (This doesn't mean we're going to start outing spammers here, but enough is enough in this case.)

Mike go ahead and post it...

Jill

[kimberly]

Google didn't ask me for it - I volunteered it... I just want to be reinstated if it is true that we were banned. Just saw our stats and google spiders were in our site this morning so we will see if we make it back in... not sure if we will get relisted with our good rankings we had.

[mikeb]

Basically, a guy named Tyler at TP wrote back telling me (what I already knew) that I was back on Google. I mentioned a different forum in my email to TP (a forum that's been linked to here regarding this whole mess) and TP said, "The forums you were in was one of our biggest competitors and they will feed you whatever they want you to hear." They also claim that they (TP) have not been banned, do not optimize themselves and don't even allow their pages to be crawled.
Of course after hearing this, I went to their source code and saw
<meta name="robots" content="index,follow">
<meta name="revisit-after" content="15 days">

What a loser

They also said they do SEO for 100 other SEO companies and don't want to be in competition with them, they are at the point where they do not need to optimize themselves.

Regarding the other forum that I mentioned to them, (a certain guys name-world dot com), they contend that the site is run by a guy and gal who are dying for business and pointed me to a couple of websites supposedly run by them that TP referred to as "decrepit". I will admit the sites in question were not great but..whatever.

Then, it looks like this guy basically pasted some bullets from a powerpoint that were boilerplate responses to forum discussion regarding TP. Stated that most forums are owned by SEO firms who would like nothing better to see TP die, are almost never impartial for above said reason, and that unlike TP, "smaller" firms use guerilla marketing tactics.

I could go on and on. He then gave me an update of the Google update. Sheesh

Mike

[mikeb]

You know what? In this case I'm going to break our own rules and let you post it.

I don't care any more if Traffic Power wants to sue me.  They have simply crossed the line too many times and need to be stopped.  (This doesn't mean we're going to start outing spammers here, but enough is enough in this case.)

Mike go ahead and post it...

Jill

Jill,
I had taken qwerty's suggestion and just posted a recap. Maybe you can delete that one.
Here is the full email:

Hello mike,

It appears you are back in google.  The forums you were in was one of our biggest competitors and they will feed you whatever they want you to hear.  We were never banned we do not optimize ourself and don’t even allow our page to be crawled.  We optimize 100 other SEO companies and do not want to be in competition with them.  We are at the point where we do not need to optimize ourself.  I’m not sure who explained the google situation but they were inaccurate.  Let me know if you still want to cancel, unfortunately no refunds apply.

Traffic Power Redress to [name removed] and [another name removed] Forum Postings

[named removed] Forum Serves as the primary SEO tool for [removed] and who runs several decrepid partially completed sites that have very little placement outside of the [removed].

[Deleted some nasty stuff!]

Although [removed] pretend that they comply "strictly" with Google's TOS, it appears that they use URL mirroring extensively with the [removed] . This application of their own unique "forum spamming" that they turn and use as a weapon against other legitimate SEO firms by featuring discussion threads optimized for the targeted SEO firms business name eg. "traffic-power". [removed] also employs 'linkfarms' which are optimized to point back to their forum discussion threads. [link snipped]

The obvious intent of [removed] is to drum up SEO business for themselves through the use of fear-tactics concerning search engine penalties and by voicing distrust or discontent with the performance of legitimate SEO firms.

The following Sites either mirror the [removed] forum or serve as a redirect.

A directory that was probably supposed to work for SEO

[deleted more URLs]

This is only a small list of the sites that mirror, redirect or contain the identical Forum used on [name removed].  Enough to demonstrate the type of spam they use at [removed] to get positions on the search engine.


22. What is Traffic-Power.com's view about online discussion forums?

Traffic-Power.com does not endorse or participate in any online forums that actively promote themselves or their affiliates by using online forums as recruiting grounds for SEO sales leads. These forums hide under the protection of free speech to slander and defame their competitors. They often position themselves as SEO experts or ethical SEO Gurus. Of course, none of this information is verifiable or necessarily accurate. It is widely known in this industry that some SEO companies are not interested in free speech, unbiased commentary, or even ethics.  Online discussion forums attached to these companies are no more than marketing tools to promote themselves or affiliates. Forums of this type are used to degrade competitors, and posted inquiries are often used to generate sales leads. The inquirer is encouraged to PM (private message) someone who is actually an employee of the SEO company that secretly runs the forum. Once the company has the inquirer's email address they !
are contacted out of the blue from the forum's company. They are then shown more links to other forums which are affiliated with the company and are mirrored through out the Internet. These affiliate forums post more defamatory commentary about opposing SEO companies.

One of the biggest offenders of this unethical practice is a company called [name removed].  Although [removed] itself claims to be unbiased, in fact most of the members are themselves part of [removed] affiliates. The moderator and registered owners of these forums are Internet marketing firms who are competitors of the very companies that are trashed in their forums. They prey on newbies or people who are new to our industry. Most people would be surprised to know that the inner circle of SEO professionals who make up these companies are not highly respected in the industry, and that there are many unbiased forums that speak poorly of them. Part of the issue that other forums have with [name removed] and their affiliates is their heavy moderation of opposing views, which directly goes against the spirit of a public forum. In actuality, these forums only appear to be public. Anybody who attempts to post views that are contrary to the opinions of Jim World are war!
ned that they may be completely banned from the forum and their posts never see the light of day.

23. Should clients research SEO?

Yes. The staff at Traffic-Power.com believes in the power of information and urges all clients to inform themselves on competing schools of thought about search engine optimization practices. However, when doing research be very careful where your information is obtained.


24. Are online discussion forums the best place to get your information?

No. Forums are not the best place to gain impartial information. Most forums are attached in some way to a marketing or SEO firm. This is not the best resource for getting an impartial view. There are some forums that are ethical and fair and allow all views to be heard. Most of these forums do not allow trashing of competitors or self promotion. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to distinguish the good from the bad.

25. What does Traffic-Power.com have to say about online discussion forum posts?

Traffic-Power.com chooses not to engage in forum discussions, as we understand that there is no way to control what competitors say. As one of the largest Internet marketing companies, we also understand that most of these companies are at a competitive disadvantage because of our size and technological capabilities. This results in smaller companies using guerilla marketing tactics to even the playing field. These tactics, though unethical and in poor taste, do exist and always will. Unfortunately, this is the uglier side of our business. If you have any concerns about your promotion we suggest you talk it over with a Traffic-Power.com representative. Most promotion questions are not new to us and can be answered very easily. Traffic-Power.com has no problems with free speech or opposing opinions. Forums can be quite entertaining like the writing on the stalls in public restrooms, but probably not the best place to get life or business advice.


Tyler Truman

Lead Technician

Traffic-Power.com


What we know about the update:

-actively re-indexing (globally as well)

-moved data from one index to another

-clients who are being transitioned from one index to another may not see themselves because it is not “live” yet.

-no estimated time frame for completion

-google is not going to necessarily publish information about what is going on

-have recalculated pagerank

-The Bottom line:  we do not control the Search Engines; we do not guarantee placement in specific search engines;  Yahoo and Msn are up and coming SE’s also

-A client could go from 500 up to 5 in a day, and also Vice Versa… they can go from 5 to 500


This update involves re-indexing and re-calculation-and moving information from one index to another.  Due to this, there are ‘holes’ in the current index.  We do not know how long this is going to take as we have no control over the Google updates.  Historically when issues like this have arrived they always stabilize and basically it is just a matter of time.

If you have any concerns feel free to reply back to this email at any time.  Thank You

This post has been edited by Jill: Jul 1 2004, 01:16 PM

[qwerty]

This multiple index argument is a joke. Back in the days of the Google Dance, you'd see differences like that, but even then it was only for 2-4 days. Now, if you see something weird in the SERP that's caused by querying a different data center, trying the query again just a few minutes later usually brings things back to normal.

Google's data centers share information constantly now. The only way you'd see an anomaly for an extended period of time would be if they were testing something.

[Jill]

(IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/omg.gif)

This guy makes me sick!!! (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/sick2.gif)

Would anyone actually believe that (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/poo.gif) ?

He had nothing bad to say about us here at HR? Too bad! Who cares what JimWorld is doing or not doing! Talk about trying to change the subject!

I had more emails over the past few days from other TP clients who were banned.

TP is going down...I hope that law suit goes through. Even though the little guys who got burned won't get anything from it, it will be worth it to see the go down, down, down....where they belong!

How many more people's sites have to be banned before they get put out of business?

[mikeb]

what makes me more sick is that we are now back out of Googles loop again. probably happened about an hour ago. this is absolute torture.
and we just got a reply from google to our email saying it's going to their engineering team for possible re-inclusion...within the next few months.
i'm heartbroken....

[Jill]

Mike make sure to forward that email to your friends at Toilet-Paper.com

(IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

I have half a mind to write this week's newsletter on this subject, but I hate to put out such negative vibes. Probably not a good idea. I may mention it briefly for the benefit of the people who have been banned. At least they can find out what they need to do next.

[projectphp]

Traffic-Power.com chooses not to engage in forum discussions, as we understand that there is no way to control what competitors say. As one of the largest Internet marketing companies, we also understand that most of these companies are at a competitive disadvantage because of our size and technological capabilities. This results in smaller companies using guerilla marketing tactics to even the playing field. These tactics, though unethical and in poor taste, do exist and always will
my emphasis added

Guerilla marketing is "unethical"? Um, OK. Howsa 'bout I rename it "terrorist marketing" and hoping the connotation and association with the war on Terror helps my cause.

One of the biggest offenders of this unethical practice is a company called Jim World. Although Jim World itself claims to be unbiased, in fact most of the members of Jim World are themselves part of Jim World's forum affiliates. The moderator and registered owners of these forums are Internet marketing firms who are competitors of the very companies that are trashed in their forums. They prey on newbies or people who are new to our industry.
my emphasis added

Man, that is HARSH, and bordering upon breaking some law, surely. What is that cliche about glass houses and stones?

I want to know what they think of Danny Sullivan's forum. They may dislike all the rest, but as a non-competitor, surely the SEW forums would be ok, no?

Forums can be quite entertaining like the writing on the stalls in public restrooms

I didn't realise this was a toilet door. In that case, for a good time, call me on 555-FUNN.

[Jill]

PHP, I only get a busy signal when I try that number...you got another one? I can really use a good time tonight! (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[SearchRank]

What is sad is that they will probably get a new name, a new location and set up shop somewhere else and Traffic Power itself will file bankruptcy and escape the whole mess. They still have their 200 some tele-marketers that will call unsuspecting victims selling their services. That is how they have sold so many packages now.

Can you imagine that even if each of those tele-marketers sells only 1 package a day, that is still 200 new clients each day? That's 1000 a week - 4000 a month - 52,000 a year! Those are staggering numbers.

What needs to happen is that the people buying search engine marketing services need to be educated. They need to know what bad SEO techniques are and how their sites/businesses can suffer if they decide to go that route. That is what will put these kind of companies out of business - empowering people with knowledge.

Jill, I think you should write about them or republish the article I wrote specifically about these guys but change it to include their name. I wish that everybody that has a wide audience would expose these guys and others like them for what they are so people would then know better than to go down this road.

[mikeb]

If people are getting sick of me here just say so but I have to ask this question:
Now, about 4 hours after we were off Google yet again, we're now back on. However, I can't find any of the lousy TP pages. I DO see our main page and other listings but whereas the TP pages were coming up before they are now nowhere to be found. If I type in the actual URL ( e.g. _n.html) I get an Error 404 page but where they were in the actual SERP's before, now they're not.

Any thoughts?

Mike

[Jill]

Mike it's hard to say, but that sounds good! If your spam pages were still showing up, that would be bad.

Maybe you've been reinstated with your cleaned up stuff?

[Scottie]

Mike-

Didn't you remove the lousy TP pages as pointed out earlier?

[mikeb]

Oh yes! Absolutely. I removed all pages, all code etc. But even after I did that, over the weekend they were still coming up on G. NOW, after I was dropped earlier today my GOOD pages are coming up but NONE of the TP pages are. So...maybe????