My boss is obsessed with Black Hat SEO

Well, maybe obsessed is too strong a word, but he's hell bent on "gaming the system" and I can't convince him it's a bad idea. He wants to spam keywords at the bottom of each page in tiny font and things like that. I'm just glad he hasn't found out what link bombing is yet.

Some background: I'm an Intern who was originally hired to make a new website because our old one was basically a disaster (completely flash based navigation!), and to help out with SEO. I told them I'd never done SEO work before, but I'd be willing to figure it out. Holy crap, am I in over my head! We're a small outfit and I'm apparently the only person here who knows anything about HTML.

Anyway, this black hat business started a few days ago, when the CEO's of the company I work for threw a hissy fit when they found out we were on page 5. One of them actually came to me and said "we'd like to be on page one by the end of the day"

Like I said before, I'm new to SEO, so I've mostly been learning the basics (I read the sticky in this forum). But I can't convince my boss that content is the most important part of the site. I can't create it myself because I don't actually understand any of this company's products (we make proprietary mortgage analysis software... I think).

I realize this is more of a psychological/interpersonal issue than a technical SEO question, but I'd appreciate any advice.

Adding text to a page isn't black hat and it won't get you to page 1... links will.

If you boss will authorize $5K for links I'm sure you can be on page 1 as soon as the money is available... (you don't need to spend it all at once but the more you stretch it over time the long it takes.

You can have your boss call me if he wishes at 902-431-3464

Rod

So whole SEO is just about money and links, eh?

So this is what real SEO is about, Rod? Who cares about content, meta tags, URL friendliness, etc. and the rest of things we discuss here on the forums as long as money is available?

Nice admission from the expert.

I can also get you one page one in one day... it's called Google Adwords. You can stop the CEO from freaking on you with a PPC campaign that can be gradually reduced as your SEO efforts pay off.

This kind of CEO don't like to spend a back on PPC. They think that when they hire somebody to do SEO this is already a big investment.

I had situation like this with one Marketing VP few years ago. I was fortunate that CEO had more brain than that SOB and and fired him after few months of work instead of me Still do some jobs for him after moving to other company.

I found myself in this same situation and had to appease the owner of our company with a PPC campaign. Luckily this campaign has led to some good conversion rates that more than pay for the cash outlay for the ads.

Content (we'll assume they have some) & links... that it!

...I'll assume you make money somehow so we really only differ on the value of meta tags & urls...

I only focus on "WHAT WORKS AND IN THE SHORTEST PERIOD OF TIME" and you; ...seem to focus on the "every little bit helps routine"... that may be good for those that don't know any better but it isn't for those serious about spending money to make money.

Sorry for being blunt -- but I am so "cocky" for a reason:

I'll engage anyone to learn what they know so I can know it as well. The best way to do that is to make people "put me in my place" with their superior knowledge, skills, experience, or wisdom... but if they can't -- then maybe they should consider learning something new... so they can.

I am working for quite big US company, plus some extra work with old clients and friends bring me more than enough of load and money. It makes me so busy that I can't finish my own projects.

The good thing is that I have access to all best tools on the market, I can spend enough money to spend on a variety of PPC campaigns and I can get training if needed. The bad thing is that I have bosses and deadlines and pressure for results.



I am flattered, it's nice to know that somebody is focused on me beside my wife and mom.



That's fine, I am not the guy who can be easily intimidated as you may notice. I always listen to others but totally rely on my knowledge and years of practical experience.

Hmmm I'm sure meta tags abuse fits this thread rather nicely. Any tricks you care to share, seoprofs?

If you still think meta tags and URL's are key components to SEO your in the dark. With the right link building budget I can take a website with no meta tags (except the title) and query strings up the wazoo and put it on the first page.

Dont get me wrong, the other stuff does help too to some degree or another. However if you want the most bang for your buck get yourself some good content, and some good links. The rest will fall into place.

Don't mean to hijack the thread but how much money do you feel it takes to buy some good links. I know there probably isn't one answer to this question but is there a ballpark figure you could give me?

Also, is this a good place to look for links to purchase... I think I got it from one of the members here....

http://www dot strongestlinks.com/directories.php?sortcolumn=fee

Impossible to answer that question. A website going after highly competitive terms like web hosting could need hundreds of thousands. Smaller nich sites could only use a few hundred. Do research on your competitors and see how many they have.

That link u posted is for directories. Don't waste your money with those.

If I'm not using paid directories then what is the budget for? Do you spend money to buy one way links for relevant sites? For example, call example.org and tell them you will pay them $500 for a one-way link with specified anchor text? Could you give me an example of how to spend money on link building. It seems like it's just good old fashioned sweat equity, building good content, and contacting webmasters.

Here is a good question (maybe)... if you were going to spend 8 hours link building what would your schedule look like?

Looks like I spawned a pretty heated debate with a fairly innocent question. Oddly enough, this isn't the first first time I've done that.

Actually, we already have a Google AdWords account. Our site shows up on the side under sponsored links (and we're the only ones there). I have no idea what our budget is because I'm an intern and they don't tell me those kinds of things.

fathom: He wants to have a bunch of keywords at the bottom of each page, repeated over and over again, in tiny font the same color as the background. I admit I'm new at this, but isn't that the very definition of 'keyword stuffing'?

They own the company...give them what they want or look for another job!

Former contributor of Seo Chat Earl Grey's black hat forum.

http://www.syndk8.net/

Document and explain the possible consequences of their actions and get to work if they tell you to. You either succeed or crash. If you succeed you win, if you crash you win. Sounds kind of fun to me.

Hey...some you other guys...please stop hijacking threads. It gets really annoying IMO.