Webcology Episode #186: Bills C-11 and C-30, SOPA and PIPA Equivalents Threaten Canadian Web Users
Posted by Jim Hedger in 
Bills C-11 and C-30, SOPA and PIPA Equivalents Threaten Canadian Web Users
Air date: February 16, 2012
Jim and Dave take a profound and sometimes profane look at two bills introduced into the Canadian Parliament this month, Bill C-11 and Bill C-30. Canadian Internet users and digital artists are in an uproar over both bills. In Parliament, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews suggested opponents of Bill C-30, (which allows police surveillance of Canadian Internet users without judicial warrant or oversight), stand with pedophiles. Jim firmly disagrees in a rant that will go down in WebmasterRadio.FM history for creatively using most if not all of George Carlin’s seven banned words. (ed note: apologies, being compared with pedophiles by Mr. Toews made me very, very angry)
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Reputation Management Win for Digital Always Media
Last week we received an email reference from west coast Internet marketer Rebecca Kelley asking if we had experience helping victims of the infamous RipOffReport. (link redacted) We’ve helped a number of clients over the past year dealing with the infection of search results by RipOffReport so we welcomed the reference. Here is the email we received from the potential client:
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Thank you for your email.
A little bit of background:My company is [name redacted], a creative services and design studio located in [location redacted]. One of our specialties is motion graphics and short films as promotional tools for client products and services. You can see some of our work here [links redacted]
I am a recent father of a baby girl and a hard working, small business owner with only a few part-time employees under me.
In May of 2011 this report was posted on RipOffReport.com:
[link redacted]The post includes my personal cell phone number, our home address, and totally untrue, slanderous and defaming comments about myself and my business — including the statements, “this company is a complete scam and a fraud” and “[name redacted] is known as a very violent person.” Despite being totally untrue, those statements have already caused severe harm to my business and my quality of life, including the loss of numerous clients, projects, and even relationships.
I have no history of violence, arrests, or lawsuits, or any other negative complaint of any kind. My credit is good and my company is in perfect standing with all of my clients, past and present.
Background:
In 2011 all-girl motorcycle rally bartending crew asked if I would be interested in investing and producing a pilot program for a reality tv series based on their work. My girlfriend/partner and I discussed the project and decided it would be a great vehicle to support and, with our prior film experience, it might be fun and potentially profitable to take a crack at making a tv pilot. Or possibly serve as a launchpad for future television and cinema work. We hired a crew, rented a house, paid for legal forms, arranged filming locations and permissions, purchased equipment and then setup our shoot. During filming, myself and one of my crew members were assaulted by the ex-boyfriend of one of the female cast members (completely unknown prior to us).The police were called and a report was filed in [location redacted] County, South Carolina on May 20th at 11:30 PM. The individual was then arrested and cited for drunken and disorderly conduct as-well-as assault. Myself and my crew member were treated and released by an ambulance already on-site and we considered the issue disturbing, but closed. We continued filming and wrapped the project later that evening.
Two days later, the same individual that assaulted us, posted the fraudulent article on RipOffReport.com.
Approximately two weeks after that, I began receiving phone calls from “Reputation Management Companies”, offering to assist with the Rip Off Report. Prices were quoted starting at $8,000 “and higher.”
Everything within the report, with the exception of my full name, business name, contact information (phone and address), is completely and totally untrue. After hearing about the report from the reputation management companies (calling my cell phone as it is listed in the ROR article), I contacted RipOffReport with a factual rebuttal and was told I would need to purchase an “Arbitration Program” (which costs $2700), and even then, the case would only be reviewed with no guarantee of outcome (despite the overwhelming evidence of clear defamation, slander, posting personal information, etc), and the best I could hope for would be red text added above the article that the description is false. The article itself, all search rankings, and the severe damage it causes to me and my business would stay on the internet, indefinitely. They flat out refused to remove the article, investigate its validity (without payment), or remove my personal information.
Simply put, I cannot afford to pay for these exorbitant “reputation management” company services but I have a need to try and push this vindictive awfulness behind me and move on with our life. Is it possible to do this with SEO/SEM and, if so, would you be available and willing to assist (for a price of course)?
Thank you.
[name redacted]
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OK. Obviously this person has a problem and is being unfairly extorted for an amount ranging between $2700 and $8000. He’s a new father, a small business owner, and, if his claims are to be believed, a person of good character. Something in the way he wrote his letter asking for assistance struck me. Perhaps it was the words he choose to use. I read sincerity in his email and decided that Alan and I had to do something to help him. Here’s the reply I offered:
Hi [name redacted], (and Rebecca and Alan)
My name is Jim Hedger. I am co-owner of a SEO firm based in Toronto which specializes in cases such as yours. Rebecca passed this on to us as we have a good deal of experience in dealing with issues caused by RipOffReport (ROR).
First of all… ARG! On behalf of my business partner, Alan K’necht, I can’t overstate how much RipOffReport angers us. I have had over a dozen dealings with ROR over the years, none of which resulted in ROR retracting or removing posts without payment. It’s called extortion and, unfortunately, ROR is just an inch over to the side of being legal. We would almost certainly NOT be able to produce an outcome that includes a retraction or deletion of the report and I can’t justify advising giving ROR any of your hard earned money.
After researching your case, we believe there are ways you can push the ROR down further without incurring the expense of hiring a team like ours. Don’t get me wrong, we love new business but we do not like taking money from people when we believe that with a few simple steps, they can likely accomplish what Digital Always Media would charge thousands of dollars for. You mentioned you are a new father. I would be more comfortable advising you than taking money from a new father. Please deposit the money you would have given us in an education plan or a new motorcycle for your kid (or something similarly cool) and follow the instructions below.
We tested several keyword phrases including your name, your business name and titles we found on your website, on Google using Google’s “search from location” tool that allows us to see what a searches conducted in [location redacted] (as well as S. Florida, Los Angeles, Phoenix Arizona and NYNY) would look like. In most cases, we found the ROR page relating to you in the 10th position. In no cases did we find it higher than the 10th spot. We also found evidence suggesting you’ve been trying to push the offending listing downwards yourself. If this is true, keep on doing what you’re doing as it appears to be working. If I was in your position, here’s what I would do…
1. Start creating more content for your website. Publish new/fresh content at least once a week on your site.
2. Use your blog and guest write for other blogs with links pointing to appropriate pages in your website. For the anchor text of the links (the text used to phrase the link), I would use keyword phrases like your name, [name redacted], or the topic of the page you’re directing the link to.
3. Every time you post to your blog, add fresh content to your site, or guest write to another blog, publicize your efforts using Twitter, Facebook, Linked-In and Google+. Get your friends, family, employees, band-mates, pizza delivery driver and anyone else you can think of to LIKE, +1 or ReTweet your social media messages. Be sure there is a truncated link (ie: bit.ly) back to the post or fresh content pages.
4. NEVER mention the RipOffReport again in writing, especially if where you’re writing might be spidered by Google or Bing. Any mention gives them potential power through the search engines. This goes double for social media applications. Mentioning ROR is like feeding trolls raw red meat. Please spit at the nearest lamppost or other inanimate object if you ever have to mention ROR verbally.
5. Get your supporters, associated artists, staff, and business associates to link to your website from their websites.
6. Publish a secondary website that discusses the technical aspects (or other aspects) of your business. It almost doesn’t matter what goes there as long as it is relevant to the topic of the website, coherent, and of interest to folks interested in film, video production, distribution, etc…. This secondary website will be used to direct links and, as it grows, to push ROR down even further.
7. Join as many local business associations as possible, especially ones that mention and link to their membership. In some cases, such as with the [location redacted] Chamber of Commerce website, links are intentionally set to “no follow”, a tag instructing Google to avoid passing PageRank from one page to another. Don’t worry about that. Get the link anyway.
8. Continue posting fresh content to your website as frequently as possible
9. Maximize other forms of search listings such as YouTube videos. The goal is to push the ROR as far down in the listings as possible so any content you can offer Google (and Bing) is probably good.
I hope you’re cool with me suggesting you don’t need to spend too much money for a third party service in this case. I think with a bit of time and effort (which I believe you’re already committed to), you will solve the issue yourself.
If, in 30 – 45 days, you’ve followed the eight (nine if you count #8) points above and have seen no changes in search results, please give us a call and we’ll take a shot at it. Otherwise, I’d feel awful taking money from you as I am pretty sure you’re already close to the kind of resolution a Reputation Management firm would be able to produce using SEO methods.
Please feel free to contact me if you have further questions or concerns.
best,
Jim Hedger
Creative Partner,
Digital Always Media
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I hope the advice helps. I’m pleased to report the potential client was extremely positive about our response. I do hope he doesn’t need to contact us in 6 – 8 weeks. If he does, we’re here to help.
Webcology Episode #185: Google Screenwise, Rolling up the RIM, Chrome for Andoids
Webcology Episode #185: Google Screenwise, Rolling up the RIM, Chrome for Andoids
Air date: February 9, 2012
Jim and Dave discuss a number of issues in the news including; Google’s new Screenwise program which pays users $25 in gift certificates to allow Google unfettered access to what would otherwise be considered private information, the US military’s announcement it will no longer source telecommunications devices from RIM, and updates about Chrome for Android and SEO.
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Vincent John Vincent – Gesturing our Way Through Social Media – Closing Keynote, Socialize Toronto 2012
Gesturing our Way Through Social Media
Closing Keynote at Media Bistro’s Socialize Toronto 2012, January 27, 2012
Vincent John Vincent, Co-CEO, President and Co-Founder, GestureTek Inc.
@vjvincent
For more information, please contact the speaker or Digital Always Media
The Power of Twitter Chats – Video from Socialize Toronto 2012
The Power of Twitter Chats
Presented at Media Bistro’s Socialize Toronto 2012
Jim Hedger – Creative Partner, Digital Always Media (Moderator)
@jimhedger
Sam Fiorella – Chief Strategy Sensei, Sensei Marketing
@samfiorella
Kevin Mullett – Director of Product Development, Cirrus ABS
@kmullett
Michelle Stinson Ross – Online Media Specialist, Superior Virtual Services
@SocialMichelleR
Judi Samuels – Director of Marketing, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
@chieflemonhead
For more information, please contact the speakers or Digital Always Media
Mobile, Social, Local: The 3Way Intersection of Future Commerce – Video from Socialize Toronto 2012
Mobile, Social, Local: The 3Way Intersection of Future Commerce
Presented at Media Bistro’s Socialize Toronto, January 27, 2012
Aaron Kronis – Sr. SEO and Social Media Analyst, Portent, Inc.
@kronis
Isabelle Pain – Publisher Relations Manager, Flurry Inc.
@flurrymobile
Susie Parker – Owner, SPARKER Strategy Group
@Susie_Parker
Dawn Wentzell – Project Manager, Mobile Technology, SpeakFeel Corporation
@speakfeel
Alan K’necht – Founding Partner, Digital Always Media (co-Moderator)
@aknecht
For more information, please contact the speakers or Digital Always Media
Measuring Social Media Success – Video from Socialize Toronto 2012
Measuring Social Media Success – Video from Socialize Toronto 2012
Alan K’necht – Founding Partner, Digital Always Media (Moderator)
@aknecht
Richard Zwicky – Chairman, BlueGlass Inc.
@rzwicky
Marty Weintraub – President, aimClear
@aimclear
Jacques Warren – CEO, WAO Marketing
@jacqueswarren
Sean Moffitt – Managing Director, Author, Chief Architect, Wiki Brands
@seanmoffitt
Michael O’Connor Clarke – VP, Digital Media, Media Profile
@michaelocc
For more information, please contact the speakers or Digital Always Media
Google Plus: New Insights on Using Google+ to Rank Better – Vid from Socialize Toronto 2012
Google Plus: New Insights on Using Google+ to Rank Better
Jim Hedger – Creative Partner, Digital Always Media (Moderator)
@jimhedger
Danny Brown – Director of Retention & Social Media, Jungoo, Inc
@dannybrown
Lawrence Mac – Adobe Inc.
Chace McMichael – President & CEO, InfiniGraph Inc.
@chasemcmichael
Dennis Yu – CEO, BliztLocal
@dennisyu
For more information, please contact the speakers or Digital Always Media
Facebook Marketing: Legal and Regulatory Compliance – Vid from Socialize Toronto 2012
Facebook Marketing: Legal and Regulatory Compliance – Vid from Socialize Toronto 2012
David M. Adler – Partner, Leavens, Strand, Glover & Adler, LLC
@adlerlaw
Fazila Nurani – Founder, PrivaTech Consulting
For more information, please contact Digital Always Media
Creatively Social: Breaking out of the Ordinary – Vid from Socialize Toronto 2012
Creatively Social: Breaking out of the Ordinary
Ric Dragon, Co-Founder and CEO, DragonSearch
Presented at Socialize Toronto, January 27, 2012
Alan K’necht to speak at eMetrics Marketing Optimization Summit – Apr 25
Alan will be discussing Social Media analytics on the "Social Media Metrics: Drive with Care" panel at the Toronto eMetrics Marketing Optimization Summit (April 23 - 26).
Hear Jim Hedger’s views and interviews on Webcology @WebmasterRadio.FM
Digital Always Media Creative Partner, Jim Hedger takes a look at the business and technique of web marketing on Webcology, live each Thursday at 2pm Eastern, 11am Pacific on WebmasterRadio.FM. FEATURED BOOK : The Last Original Idea
The Last Original Idea actually is an original idea - highly unusual in a world where "recycle" is the order of the day. It takes a light hearted look at the state of Internet marketing today and traces back each of the elements to its historical roots, clearly demonstrating that companies who understood the mistakes of the past were able to be profitable in the present. Others are a mere memory, lost in cyber-space.
Alan K’necht
For over a decade, Alan K’necht has successfully run search marketing campaigns and multiple training courses on search engine optimization, web analytics, Webtrends, Google Analtyics, Site Catalyst, Social Media Marketing and Twitter. In 1998, he incorporated his company, K’nechtology Inc. and quickly became a recognized authority and frequent speaker at web and Internet marketing conferences around the world. He has contributed hundreds of articles to industry publications and has been interviewed by leading publications including the Wallstreet Journal, Cnet, CBC Radio, National Post, WebmasterRadio and many others.
Jim Hedger
Jim Hedger is an organic SEO and digital marketing specialist. Jim has been deeply involved in the online marketing industry since 1998, as a SEO since 1999. He is best known as a prolific content writer, search industry commentator, WebmasterRadio.FM show host and conference interviewer. He is also a frequent conference speaker and organizer.
Jim brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, passion and creative thinking to each project. Preferring a teamwork approach, Jim strives to inform and train clients and/or their staff, leaving them better equipped to manage their online marketing efforts.
Jim is co-host of Webcology on WebmasterRadio.FM. Webcology is popular weekly live-to-air broadcast with archived podcasts dating back to October 25, 2007. Webcology is heard every Thursday at 2:00pm eastern/11am pacific and is available through iTunes and on iTunes Radio.
Lyndsay Walker
Lyndsay has been an online enthusiast for almost her entire life. Beginning at age 12, she began creating websites and in 2005 made the switch to online marketing, focusing on Search Engine Optimization and Web Analytics. Her experience as a web designer has led her to become an expert at technical SEO issues.
Lyndsay has worked as an SEO expert in a variety of fields including Internet pharmacies, payday loans, travel and e-commerce, most recently heading the Online Marketing department at Canada’s Web Shop.
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