Learn SEO The Insulting Way!

When I was assigned by my former boss to oversee Internet marketing back in 2001, I had absolutely no freaking clue what I was doing. That was until the CEO of the software company I worked for saw me struggling, and took me under his wing to get me on track. We barely knew each other, but he patiently dealt with my questions and blunders as I earned my little wings. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a mentor on hand, so the Internet is the only teacher they have.

Learning From Idiots

OK “happy story time” ends here because I’m actually pissed off at quite a few people right now.  Somewhere up in the hundreds if not thousands of people to be exact. After my mentor and me parted, I was reading articles on SEO and learning from examples. As my education progressed, I found myself needing to ask questions. So off I went to various webmaster and newly founded Internet marketing forums to seek help.

I was a “noob” to their forum, but I had been actively practicing SEO for 2 years at this point. I got treated like crap, my questions got met with snarky remarks from self-righteous fools, and my techniques that I shared were torn down and discredited. So what did I do?

I left. I left wishing I was born with more than 2 middle fingers.  I left knowing I could come back in 6 months knowing more than them because I wasn’t posturing on forums all day talking a good game but not producing.

Forum Admins and Mods

If a potential client asked you a question in an attempt to learn something, would you talk down to them? What if they were sharing something they learned about SEO and it was incorrect? Would you berate them about it to make yourself look more knowledgeable?

My point is simple;Â when a “noob” comes to your forum and actively seeks out your advice, you should be HUMBLE and GRATEFUL that they view you as a source of authority and/or information. Â Hell, you should be grateful that anyone cares what you have to say period.

When you started that forum or when you became a moderator, you assumed the responsibility to assist the visitors with information and guidance when needed. You are a representative of the namesake, branding, and evolving image of that forum. Just like when you work for a company and you are in the public facing role. So don’t be an ass.

A Little Power Goes a Wrong Way

How can you possibly teach others about making a positive impression on clients and manage a positive branding campaign and yet send jilted forum members out the door absolutely disgusted with you or the forum? You can’t have it both ways. So don’t even act like you can.

I know first hand of forum mods that definitely abuse their power on a number of boards. I’ve seen it happen and go unpunished too many times. And I’m pretty sure you have to.

Conclusion

I’m sorry to get this upset and do this on my blog. Usually this is a fun place, but what happens in our community means allot to me. It’s my livelihood that supports my wife and 2 sons. It’s a part of my own personal pride and professional ambitions. And it was hard as hell for me not to start dropping names and linking out to the forums that really tick me off.

I guess my conclusion is that I had to vent, and I hope you haven’t been mistreated too. And if you have, give ‘em hell back.

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 15th, 2007 at 2:29 pm and is filed under SEO, whateva. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.