Opinions on Starting a Search Spam Exposing Site

[randfish]

How would the SEO community feel about a site that was focused on 'outing' search engine spammers:

The pages they make
The techniques they use
The current success they are having
The search terms where the top ten positions are filled with spam
etc

The format would probably be like a categorized group blog and I would be able to create it if there is interest. However, I know this can be a touchy subject, so I thought I'd check with you all first. Please post your thoughts and opinions about the value of such a service...

Thanks!

[Cygnus]

Hmm, this sounds like something that would fit naturally with blackhatseo.com

[dazzlindonna]

I have no doubt there would be some outrage from some out there, and probably lots of mud slung at it. You and any contributors would have to have hard shells to defend it. Still, it would be interesting, and possibly valuable in terms of analyzing different strategies. Would make for good catfights amongst various groups, I'm sure.

[earlpearl]

Phew!!! It would be a great way to learn how to spam. I wouldn't start it.

Dave

[ferret77]

maybe discussing the techiques would be cool for learning purposes but having a tattle tale site would lame as hell

i think people should keep their mouths shut about other peoples businesses

I would love to learn some spam techniques that work well, most of them are joke

[Gr8ted3s]

How would the SEO community feel about a site that was focused on 'outing' search engine spammers:

I have a great deal of respect for the work that you perform, the contributions that you've made here and in other forums, as well as your opinions. I however do not like the idea of a band of wannabe vigilantes playing "good cop" by interpreting their version of spam and reporting everyone that they don't like for spamming.

In my opinion, 90 percent of all sites could be labeled as using some form of spam technique(s). In fact, given enough time, I'd be willing to bet that a site such as the one you describe could end up utilizing some form of "spam", if even by accident. Wouldn't that be ironic to have a spam reporting community banned for spamming?

Most people that report spam have their own interests at heart (i.e. someone is appearing before them in the SERPS). However, there are some deluded people that actually believe reporting spam somehow endears them to the SE's. Imagine their shock, horror, and absolute outrage after having brown-nosed their SE buddies for so long when their sites turn up missing from the SERPS because of some algo-tweak (and I've seen it happen).

The net and physical world are both riddled with organizations created for the "greater good", just look at DMOZ. All these organizations start out with the best intentions, just remember what the road to hell is paved with...

If this is something you want to do, then go for it. I support your right to publish what you want. I just think it's a bad idea both for the reasons I named as well as those that others have posted regarding tips and techniques to be exploited.

One note of warning though; you better go with a hosting company that knows how to combat the type of audience that you will be going up against. Those that really know what they are doing are most likely the same entities that can make life extremely...frustrating.

Personally, I think a better endeavor would be a community focused on finding good sites that have been wrongly accused or just plain missed, and then championing their inclusion/reinclusion. SEOChat.com has pretty poor saturation in Yahoo, perhaps you could start there, or maybe SEOChat.com is spamming...

With all this said, please do keep up the good work. You are an inspiration with contributions which are both many and generous on this and other forums.

[EGOL]

I sure would like to see some of my SERPs cleaned up... but the problem is that some of the sites that people complain about as spam on these forums use some of the techniques that i employ myself. :razz:

SPAM = Sites Positioned Above Mine

[Gr8ted3s]

[EGOL]

two more cents...

I believe that the people at google spend enough time in the SERPs that they should have seen an awful lot of spammy stuff by now. The fact that lots of spammy sites exist tells me that google either has a lower (not as strict) definition of spam than I do or that they aren't really interested in an aggressive campaign against it. So, if this site is being built to show Google or other SEs what we think is SPAM they will either not care or might get a chuckle.

[SEO_AM]

I think it will be like pornography. Some people believe paintings by the masters contain some pornographic images; while others believe that Playboy is art. I think I am total white-hat and ethical, but don't look at my site... you might disagree. That being said, it is really up to the search engines on who they want to penalize and/or ban. As long as the search engines allow a tactic to continue who is to say it is grey or black hat. Not me. (Egol, I love your SPAM acronym :smile: ).

[Gr8ted3s]

My suggestion would be a "Spam Site Of The Week" contest. Might be quite humerous to establish a industry based award for "Worst Spam Site of the Week" where each major industry/webmaster/seo can nominate there own contenders. Winners will be selected by specific industry (Finance/Shopping? etc) and by the number of individual spam techniques used on a single page while still ranking in the top ten for the spammed target phrase. Once the winners selected, maybe create a "Spam Hall Of Fame" where Champions are listed. Then you can e-mail the winning site owners a Spam award that highlights all the individual spam techniques used, without actually reporting them. The winner is given right to place this logo on their site and may only request removal from the Spam Hall when the offending spam techniques have been removed. The award would be maintained in the Current hall for as long as the site maintains its ranking with exisiting spam intact. After which it is removed from the Hall and placed into past winners.

Now THAT is an interesting idea. That could be a good way of turning something which normally has such negative connotations into something fun and humorous. You never know, you might even get voluntary submissions. The only thing that potentially dwarfs most spammers paranoia is often times their ego.

A vote could determine the spamminess of a site, or to determine the spamminess of certain techniques.

Don't know if it would catch on or what it would evolve to, but I like the concept gc

[EGOL]

Maybe the best value of spam is the laugh that we might get out of it... and I have seen some really funny spam sites. So, I like this idea that gchaney proposed. And the awards might be structured like this...


First Prize $5
Second Prize $15
Third Prize $25

Confess that it belongs to you $50

[SEO_AM]

:smile:

[Gr8ted3s]

There you go Rand, you have your verdict

[EGOL]

You know.... I think that a site like this would get a **** load of free links! :razz: :razz: :razz: :razz: :razz: :razz: :razz: :razz: :razz: :razz:

PR10 no kidding!

The problem will be to build the site so that it doesn't count as backlinks to the award winners!