Warren Pattison: Search Engine Marketing & Internet Strategist

Sort of related to the Monty Python bit, but there seems to be a lot of press around a trend that SEO is dead or at least dying. Last week, American Express (AMEX) stated that they no longer consider SEO a viable online marketing tactic. In Fact, AMEX more or less equated SEO agencies to Snake Oil Salesman.

Search Engine Watch reports of a judgment against a SEO practitioner who solicited his services to small to medium size businesses.

A Washington-based company that sells search engine optimization (SEO) services to small businesses is prohibited from selling or advertising them to new customers under the terms of a settlement announced by Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna.

While the SEO standards debate rages, the search marketing industry continues to be perceived as purveyors of snake oil and predators of small business owners.

The company, Internet Advancement will no longer be allowed to solicit new customers for SEO services - however, they are allowed to continue offering SEO services to existing clients.

The court agreement states the following:

* Advertise or offer search optimization (SEO) services to new customers;

* Misrepresent its success rate, ability to provide top search-engine rankings or increase Web traffic or its number of repeat customers;

* Fail to disclose all material contract terms before customers have agreed to pay for services;

* Fail to respond promptly to consumer complaints, refund requests or other requests for services or information;

* Charge customer credit cards without authorization;

* Fail to process requests to cancel service or bill consumers after they have cancelled contracts;

* Represent that a customer isn’t entitled to a refund because the customer performed changes to the source code of his/her Web site unless a third-party technical expert confirms that the changes were made or authorized by the customer.

Let me know what you think - is SEO slated to truly become the Snake Oil scam of the Internet (aside from work at home and various enlargement pills)?