OMG: My main competitor is a scammer!

[Blue999]

This person has positions #1, #3 and #4 for a term that's getting 60000 searches per month and less than 1 million competition. What they are doing is they offer a fake 'free sample' of the same product I am selling but when you click the link you get taken to the sign up page for a *very* dubious borderline illegal online gambling merchant that's been accused of identity fraud and making people think they have won when they have not. A google search of complaints about this place brings up pages and pages of results.

I don't even understand the logic behind what they are doing - if they can get these results in the SERPS why not just sell the product itself? Surely it would convert better?

My question is if I expose this person on my website and put a link to their sites on my site will this help me for SEO purporses?

[Goatboy]

Why would you want to put a link to their websites?

[Kay King]

My question is if I expose this person on my website and put a link to their sites will this help me for SEO purporses?

Nope. For all you know their site may have been hacked.

More importantly - complaining about a competitor takes focus away from your message on your site. It comes across to visitors as petty and spiteful and in complaining you would probably be sending the competitor more traffic.

Just concentrate on moving your own site up in the SERP's.

kay

[Blue999]

First off my site is a review site, visitors are not supposed to know which one is 'my product' and which are 'competitors'.



Yeah, it might always be a hacker.

I just don't understand why a hacker would want to leave links to a gambling site on a site that is nothing to do with gambling?

I'm only an affiliate of the product, and my website concepts is actually a review of the various sites which is the only reason I clicked on their links to try to buy the product in the first place.

[debra]

Originally Posted by Blue999

This person has positions #1, #3 and #4 for a term that's getting 60000 searches per month and less than 1 million competition. What they are doing is they offer a fake 'free sample' of the same product I am selling but when you click the link you get taken to the sign up page for a *very* dubious borderline illegal online gambling merchant that's been accused of identity fraud and making people think they have won when they have not. A google search of complaints about this place brings up pages and pages of results.

I don't even understand the logic behind what they are doing - if they can get these results in the SERPS why not just sell the product itself? Surely it would convert better?

My question is if I expose this person on my website and put a link to their sites on my site will this help me for SEO purporses?

Never...ever, focus any content from your site toward, whether it be negative or positive, your competitor unless it is a mutual interest between both webmasters and recipicated equally for traffic purposes.

You can turn the competitor into Google and let them handle it. If you decide to go that route...be prepared to have thier peeping eyes looking at your site too. Which means...make sure your site is clean and optimized(white hat) before you do so.

[Blue999]

I might report them to Google...I was pretty pissed when I found out about them.

Never...ever, focus any content from your site toward, whether it be negative or positive, your competitor unless it is a mutual interest between both webmasters and recipicated equally for traffic purposes.

My question is if I am making a review site for a product and I'm an affiliate of 1 or 2 sites then doesn't it look a bit like I'm pushing one product at them if I only link to the site I'm an affiliate of? Don't visitors find this suspicious? This problem has always bother me.

I just thought linking to competitors might make me look less biased.

[Mark Blaze]

If the product they are promoting is un-related or not the exact product they were looking for and your site is just below them in the serps then they should close your 'competitors' website and then come straight to you! That is unless your in dumb dumb market and people signup for anything in which case is why they promote and un-related offer which may even be converting better.

Mark Blaze

[debra]

Originally Posted by Blue999

My question is if I am making a review site for a product and I'm an affiliate of 1 or 2 sites then doesn't it look a bit like I'm pushing one product at them if I only link to the site I'm an affiliate of? Don't visitors find this suspicious? This problem has always bother me.

I just thought linking to competitors might make me look less biased.

No...they find it focused and expect your content in the reviews to answer all thier questions to help them follow through in a buying position. I have found that incorporating Q&A pages help in that aspect.

[Kay King]

What looks suspicious to visitors is seeing a marketer ranting about another marketer - they don't care.

If you get them to your site - SELL them.

I might report them to Google...I was pretty pissed when I found out about them.

You'd be better off to focus on your own business instead of how others do their business. Reporting your competitors isn't a great idea.

[paulgl]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. I'd say the biggest obstacle to most
people is just not believing any other site deserves the top
spot over ours! How can that be? They must be scammers or
doing something illegal! Google is so unfair!

You don't have a million competitors. That's another myth.
People see the results and confuse what a competitor is.
Or even how many true results would ever be shown.

Many times the ones who out rank you are not even competitors
to your chosen niche.

Get over it.

You claim they have already been "accused." Let the legal
process go forward. If there is a case, that is.

Paul

[Blue999]

You'd be better off to focus on your own business instead of how others do their business. Reporting your competitors isn't a great idea.

And people have a right to search for something and find relevant search engine results, not some spam crap.

I am focused on my business, I was just asking what if anything I should do about them. Calm down.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. I'd say the biggest obstacle to most
people is just not believing any other site deserves the top
spot over ours! How can that be? They must be scammers or
doing something illegal! Google is so unfair!

Actually no, it's not just about my business in this instance, it's something I personally feel is morally wrong.

I actually have several campaigns I'm working on, I'm not overly attached to this one.

[oyruhere]

If you want to make a moral stand I think you should do whatever you feel is the right.

However if, as you indicate, they are firmly black hat whereas you, on the other hand, are not, your concern should perhaps be more about how they will react if they find out you are undermining their business.

The moral course is never the easy one.

[paulgl]

If the site in question really, really, REALLY has 3 of the top
spots on google for a real search, then I'd say google has
voted. Just because you lose, does not make anyone a scammer.

You might think google is in the habit of promoting scams, schemes,
cons, and illegal activity, but they aren't. A few fall in maybe.
Nothing is perfect.

If the site in question really is as you say, you have nothing to
worry about. Google will ban it. But don't hold your breath.

Paul