“You’re not a real SEO until you get a domain banned”
Seriously, I have heard this on more than one occasion. Are you kidding me? That might be one of the worst schools of thought in the entire microcosm of SEO.
A few similar phrases (to show how dumb this way of thinking is):
- “You’re not a real fisherman until you sink your boat”
- “You’re not a real doctor until you kill a patient”
- “You’re not a real stripper until your boobs fall off”
I would like to propose a new statement to circulate through the SEO community to respond to the more asinine, established one.
“You’re probably not a real SEO if you are getting your sites banned“
January 30th, 2007 on 1:52 pm
I guess it’s all about pushing the limits like extreme sports in some cases.
For example: You’re not a real surfer until you’ve had a bad wipe out. (Actually several of them) and probably a few fist fights as well. Otherwise, you’re a probably just a poser, wuss or wannabe.
January 30th, 2007 on 2:22 pm
I like to believe your not a real SEO until you’ve gotten a site banned and then gotten it back in, and I’m talkin’ about an algorithmic ban mind you I mean an old fashioned human ban.
January 30th, 2007 on 2:34 pm
I agree with Hawaii SEO. Yes, being a professional is about knowing the boundaries and limitations for your sites. But it is also figuring out when, where, and how to push them in the name of continuous learning and building traffic.
January 30th, 2007 on 9:00 pm
I’m probably more accepting: if you are able to generate positive movement in any given search engine due to your tactics, then you’re a SEO — it is the range of abilities that matters most, however.
I like Michael’s take though…banned and then back in. Granted, sometimes the tactics taken are opportunistic on purpose, with the liklihood of a ban fairly high. In many of those cases, getting the site re-included is worth less than simply starting from scratch, which is where I think the original theory likely came from. Thus that theory can then evolve into your current thinking Chris…if you can take a site that should probably be hand-banned and keep it ranking, that takes some skill (and luck).
Cygnus
January 31st, 2007 on 11:34 am
Real SEOs don’t get banned. They get results.
January 31st, 2007 on 1:30 pm
I like Michael’s thought and would add that once you get the domain unbanned – you learn from your mistakes. ;)
January 31st, 2007 on 6:15 pm
Real SEOs Don’t Surf
January 31st, 2007 on 10:52 pm
I would like to add another to the list.
“You are not a real surfer until you get eaten by a shark”
February 1st, 2007 on 12:54 am
ha
February 1st, 2007 on 7:33 pm
Here’s something to keep in mind sometimes they smash cars at 60 MPH into concrete walls to see what happens, and make better cars next time.
February 1st, 2007 on 9:36 pm
True, and I see your point, but very rarely do they smash houses at 60 MPH.
I guess what I am saying here is if that you are getting crappy throwaway sites banned that’s one thing, but if you are getting your bread and butter sites banned, that’s entirely different.
February 2nd, 2007 on 2:26 pm
>>>Real SEOs don’t get banned.
Thats ridiculous.
Im not ashamed to say that i have had more sites banned that I can even recall. Do I get results? I do ok I guess. I suppose it depends on the type of SEO you are. If you are a vanilla white as the pure driven snow type of SEO working on brandable domains, then yeah, you probably are not going to see a whole bunch of bans over your career. However, if you are a churn and burn, hand to hand combat SEO working in money verticals, sites getting banned are just part of doing business.
Chris, btw, your blog is a killer read.
February 2nd, 2007 on 3:06 pm
lol @ pmac
You saved that comment on at the very end!
I work in a big money vertical and still no bans. I don’t consider myself white hat or black hat, I just do what I need to do to keep domains at the top all the time end never ever get banned. Too much at stake.
I understand and sympathize with the other type of SEO who uses natural search to promote ads and offers. Definitely a different game there. You guys gotta live and die by the sword and constantly push. I am not that SEO, I’m the one who has the clutch on the top spot, working for a major corporation who SHOULD be there. Not that you SHOULDN’T, it just that we are the source of the offer other domains and SEOs are pushing. We SHOULD be the top and I bust my but to stay there.
February 6th, 2007 on 10:07 pm
You missed out a keyword dude.
“You’re not a blackhat SEO till you get domains banned.”