I’m sure most of you remember Search Guild’s SEO contest from a couple of years ago.
(Search Guild members were given a phrase that produced no results in Google "and the person who ranked #1 after a month won a prize).
It turns out that someone from V7N has decided it would be good for the SEO community if the contest was brought back. Only this time, instead of giving away an ipod, he’s going to give away cold hard cash. ($1000.00 for #1)
But of course, there’s a catch. In order to qualify for the cash, you need to put up a link to V7N.
Now, I think it would be great if all SEO’s would participate. (The last contest only generated about 200k pages). But I also think it is pretty lame to use a contest like this just to build links to your own site. And I also know that there are a lot of great SEO’s who might consider participating, but they aren’t interested in helping V7N out.
So I’ve decided the best thing to do would be to match the offer. I’ll pay the same amount for top 5 positions as V7N. The only requirements to collect the cash will be:
A) Not linking to V7N
and
B) Posting a link to Matt’s blog without using the www. (the non-www version of Matt’s blog is only a PR4, so it needs a little help)
I think this plan will greatly benefit the SEO community by getting far more people to participate. And at the same time, we’ll be able to help out a good friend. 
I’ll let everyone know as soon as the keyword phrase has been chosen.
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I love it!
It will be interesting to see the breakdown of linkers versus non linkers. And what an act of both charity and irony… helping the Google Engineer improve his placement in the SERPS through a contest that rewards he (or she) who shows the highest proficiency at manipulating them.
Great….I wonder how informative this contest will be. I can think that this contest will be giant like Titanic.
I am much interested and will participate.
I’m in,…
Currently holding a #1 spot in Google for a few years running for 1 search term for a site we coded 3 yrs ago,… hold the #4 spot for a 2nd term.
Can’t disclose only b/c I don’t need people going after those (hope you understand).
Looking forward to the challenge,…
Haha, that’s a great counter offer. Hopefully, contests like this can shed some light on the ever changing SEO dynamic. Plus, it’s very cool that you’ll front your own money as well making this contest even more worthwhile. Now, I wonder if one SEO will make two pages – one with a link and one without and take home both prizes.
“..it is pretty lame to use a contest like this just to build links to your own site”..hmmn..But then again you indicate that you want to match the offer but want a link to matt’s blog.
I’m kind of confused with your statement. Would you mind clarifying? Aren’t you proposing a similar thing with the only difference being “Matt’s blog” in your case?
Jane
Yes Jane, that’s what I’m proposing. The original contest is being run for the benefit of the person running the contest. My contest is being run for the benefit of someone else. Think of it as ironic SEO charity.
ROFL….
Now, Matt could probably fix this on Matt’s blog before Google fixes this in Google. Is Matt perhaps running an experiment too by not trying a local fix? We know how Google prefers system-wide fixes. What does Matt prefer?
Just make the keywords “incredibill darsense” and I’ve already won.
Anything else is work
WebGuerrilla, I don’t need your brand of pity..
I agree that the “have an SEO contest, but you have to link to a certain site” schtick is tired.
See, this is the difference between Greg and the JV SEO Squad who starts a competition like this to garner links. Guess what, JV. Greg just got a bunch of links (in fact, probably better quality links than the contest pages could ever pass) and he doesn’t look like a choad in the process.
Good on you, Greg.
So is “links as an indicator of quality” but you don’t hear us complaining!
MG
WebGuerrilla said:
I said:
Seems you be confused, Greg.
Lol
It seems like this contest is getting bigger for each day. Next is probably Cutts blogging about it … nice that he commented here. What if you link to both ?, hehe.
BTW, thanks for the radio talks Greg.
PS: Are you trying to persuade Cutts to throw a www-301 up with this?
WebGuerrilla, it’s about time someone stood up for principles.
[quote]I wonder how informative this contest will be.[/quote]
I’m sure it will be very informative for the engineers at Google and the other search engines–all they have to do is analyze the results and find all the ‘tricks’ SEOs are using. Furthermore, I’m sure it will be fairly easy to identify all the SEOs out there involved in the contest. Needless to say, I won’t be participating in this contest.
Great idea! I cant wait to get started!
So, this new contest that passes PR to Matt’s blog will greatly benefit the SEO community by getting far more people to participate. How is it going to do that?
I’m sorry, I don’t see how that will benefit anyone but Matt. Did I miss something? I’m new to all this, so maybe I’m missing something somewhere.
From my perspective, here’s how it looks:
Greg got wind of this contest and checked it out, in his fashion. But, he didn’t read the rules that were clearly stated in the first post of the thread and he made a mistaken assumption. Then, he posted a counter-offer, of sorts, in what can only be described as a knee-jerk reaction. However, in the final analysis, his rules have more strings attached, so to speak, because I don’t see him saying that a no-follow is ok.
Besides that, It seems to me that anyone giving away prize money can stipulate whatever rules he or she wants. Why would anyone have a problem with that? After all, it’s their money and their contest. The fact that John isn’t after PR is irrelevant, really. Even if he was, who cares? Apparrently, Greg does. He cares so much and he’s so outraged that he decided he’d have his own little contest. But, being the benevolent guy that he is, he’s gonna give the PR to Matt, rather than just say that no links are required.
Huh?
If the link requirement is so offensive, then why have one, at all? And if going after PR, in the form of a contest like this is such bad form, why is it better to add PR to someone else’s page, rather than your own?
Seriously, I don’t get it.
Have I missed something somewhere? Please, fill me in, because I’m confused. From what I see, there is some pretty convoluted logic at work here.
To say that Greg is merely inconsistent would be generous.
By the way, Greg, I don’t know you, but I would think that an apology or an explanation to John is in order. He’s a personal friend of mine or I would have never posted here. He won’t say what I will, though, because he doesn’t want to make a scene.
I have no qualms with saying what should be said, myself, though.
None at all.
If I had nothing better to do, like continuing to dominate the SERPs for my sites, I’d be all over this contest. However, I can make $1000 with much less effort by working on my own site. I do that daily. Even the refersmart.com contest that was $10,000 didn’t attract my interest.
The time spent on these things don’t make any serious cash, so I’m not going to waste the hours involved just to prove that I’ve got some knowledge and not enough work to keep me busy.
When a site enters a contest, what is wrong with having the info listed on that site to help others find the contest thru that site/page? I think a lot of people here suffer from seo tunnel vision and had their minds made up long before they even got to the details of the contest. btw nice copycatting, Greg :rolleyes:
Haha, that’s great what you’re doing to v7n!
I think you should make it mandatory that the anchor text for the link to Matt is something like…
“black hat seo”
For the actual contest I think it’s quite unfair. It heavily favors those SEO’s that personally own authoritative sites.
ok – I’m in to match your terms Greg
http://www.oilman.ca/sem/nigritude-ultramarine-of-2006/
Seems you be really, really lame, John.
Nobody likes being called out in public, but in this scenario you brought it on yourself. PR (public relations, not pagerank) stunts are cool and a great way to build traffic, recognition, etc., but why not come up with an original one?
So why in the hell are you even doing the contest if the links you gain have no benefit? Again, totally lame.
So you mean people can only enter one of those 2 contests, right?
Great idea! I’m in
Just found out about the v7n contest and soon after found your site. I would prefer to win your contest as v7n is gaining more from this than anyone. However, v7n is trusted and I’m sure he’ll pay up. Why should I trust web guerrilla? In all honesty I’m not trying to be an ass as I’m on your side. I’m interested to hear your response.
I need to be sure before committing to this.
Oops…my mistake. Did some more research and seems you do have a name. I’ll shutup now.
I am going to participate. It’s going to be fun!
Can’t wait, my tribute to Matt’s blog
Good idea Alex.
http://www.google.com/search?&q=greg+boser
Some people just aren’t getting the joke here.
I came across the article in search engine journal and was very intrigued. A newer SEO that I am, I had not heard of these contests before. After perusing MattCutts Blog I was very impressed with the information he presents and believe it to be a worthy resource to link to.
With regard to the contest; I think it a great way to assess my SEO skills. Who knows-lets see how good I really am.
I’m thinking I might participate just to see if I have what it takes to even hit the top 10 but I might link to something more interesting.
Since I don’t need the money perhaps the Bonsai Kitten site could use a revival with a little link love.
V7N is not trusted. John Scott is a scam artist and it seems as if now is as good a time as any to bring it to light. I used to work in TV and its true, people will believe anything they see on tv. Just as with JS…he’s got a few loyal followers, but birds of a feather…
Its sad actually, that he’s taken a stand against Greg like this without knowing who he’s dealing with.
Like I said at TW…this will be fun to watch!
LOL at requirement B and Cameron’s suggestion that “black hat seo” be the anchor text. Also at the clueless wannabe SEO’s who don’t get the joke.
As I already said over at Oilman’s place. I just find this really funny but it has found me something to do at night and I now have a use for an old domain that’s knocking around.
It will be fun to see who takes sides and who just enters in both competitions rendering the boycott pretty useless IMO but hey, bring it on, the most chances of winning cash the better right?
P.S. I’m going to try in monitor this with my blog (click my name to see it) as it’s never has a use before either to be honest.
Thanks for bringing a little fun into my working life for a month or so.
g00gl3r
and here it goes!
$4000 + ipod for the winner alone!, details found at g00gl3r.com if you’re not registered on v7n.
I think All checks grabed by Shawn. huh many things he know
….
BUt I will participate with strong confidence.
v7n – $1000
WebGuerrilla – $1000
Oilman – $1000
Mr Grehan – $1000
g00gl3r – 30Gb iPod
Seriously who are all these idiots?
I have to say that money talks. With high cash stakes to hand you are bound to see many people interested. What’s the topic? SEO of cause. I’m up for anything to do with making more people interested in SEO. And that’s why we’re including the iPod.
So apparently Matt is running an experiment. From Matt’s excellent post on his blog…
url canonicalization
http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/seo-advice-url-canonicalization/
WebGuerrilla,
Inquiring minds want to know. v7n’s total for the first place winner is $4,000. Are you going to be out banked by some slacker who spends his days floating on a rubber boat in the Sea of Japan?
Me thinks you need to put some serious dough out there. Be a man. Put your money where your mouth is, and all that jazz.
Cheers
JS
Cash does talk, but there is so much more behind this than just the 4k. It’s about putting your money where your mouth is. It’s been going on in the forums for a while, competing with words. That gets tiring. I believe everyone should link to the thread on John’s forum where he announces the competition. It was his idea and he’s the one who got the ball rolling.
Mike Dammann
A contest with no rules other than deliverate link building which is link spamming which is what Google does not want and yet you will all run and play.
All the while all the blaxk hats are laughing. DaveN should enter and kick all of your butts for being lame.
V7N did not start the SEO contest as was posted earlier…they are riding off one already done.
I decided I am in. But I am going to win and not link to anyone who tells me I haver to link to them.
Then when I win sitting at 1 # 1 how will anyone else be declared a winner??
Ok, so it’s v7ndotcom elursrebmem (!?) then….
Are you sure? LOL
This seems kind of a fun thing to do even for an amateur. However, I wish the name chosen would have had been less sensical. That is it shouldn’t have had any marketing connotations and v7ndotcom elursrebmem certainly does at least the first part that is…
Guess I’m going to join your contest for the money!
If the goal is to rank best in Google, I think the link requirement should go to the Yahoo Blog Weather Report page. It just doesn’t make sense to help google help their own. Let’s give Tim a boost!
This is getting to be funny!
Bill Hartzer said in his comment above:
” I’m sure it will be very informative for the engineers at Google and the other search engines–all they have to do is analyze the results and find all the ‘tricks’ SEOs are using. Furthermore, I’m sure it will be fairly easy to identify all the SEOs out there involved in the contest.”
As a “non-insider” but observer of the SEO-SEM industry since 1997, I’m curious how true Bill’s statement is? I’m not questioning Bill’s vast knowledge and experience. I’m just wondering if Matt Cutts (who I respect) isn’t going to suggest to someone in Google that they should use this “contest opportunity” to do exactly what Bill suggests? Matt certainly has the right (and maybe “personal obligation”) to do that. For all SEO’s following the Google Webmaster Guidelines, no problem. But, how “competitive” will this get?
Was the 2003 contest used by the search engines to do the same?
A good prize value to get into such contests.
People at Google can’t detect such websites which come up like mushrooms at such fast rate?
If they can, they may ban such sites by 15th May.
just a thought.. any comments?
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