That's one heck of a rant, but I don't think any of its points stand up. The integrity of Google's search results is crucial to its AdWords income. If people don't get the results from Google, its share of the search market will fall and AdWords income will dip.

It also fails to appreciate that the line between scaling something and becoming a spammer is a very thin one - Google isn't targeting all guest posts and infographics (as the piece suggests) just rubbish efforts that add no value.

Plus, this line "Their primary goal was to identify and demote sites that had actively employed successful SEO shortcuts" should probably read "Their primary goal was to identify and demote sites that had actively employed SEO tactics that breached their webmaster guidelines which have been around, like, forever".

Honestly, it's like moaning about being caught speeding because you've done 100mph down that road for years and the police only just put a speed trap in last week.

I think everyone who works in SEO knows that the lines between black, grey and white hat have always been a) blurred and b) on the move. Google might not be our friend (is it possible to be friends with an algorithm) but we're not at war with it.

That said, it's a bit surprising to see Rand criticized (actually, it's not surprising, it's getting kind of boring) when one of the objectives of the kind of inbound marketing he advocates is to diversify traffic sources away from organic search, something that any Google hater should surely approve of.

Enough with the ragebait, people.

That's a great retort that adds a whole new dimension to the debate, thanks Will!

Your opening line: "That's one heck of a rant, but I don't think any of its points stand up. The integrity of Google's search results is crucial to its AdWords income. If people don't get the results from Google, its share of the search market will fall and AdWords income will dip."

Does anyone know if there is any historical data out there comparing the ratio Adwords Revenue to daily search revenue on Google?  Would love to see if there is correlation between a perceived improvement in the quality of SERPs from, say, 2003 to now.  Obviously revenues will have increased, but would like to see if its proportionately increased (or maybe there's too many variables given that there's so many ads now on Google SERPs)

+100 Will. Very well said.

Only part I disagree with is the bit about criticizing me. I think there should be more of it. Good to ensure that my ego doesn't get over-inflated :-)

Haha. I left a comment on the article, and I thought Jarrod made a few good points at least as far as the White/black/gray hat vs. Snake Oil Salesmen battle goes. And the whole moralizing thing does get kinda old. I think as long as what you do lines up with your values and ethics, you're good to go and you don't really need to judge other search engine marketers if what they do is legitimate. That's just me, though.

There's some legitimate turmoil right now and I think it's perfectly valid to talk about it. I like to poke fun at it, personally, but in the end I don't have any animosity toward anyone who's doing their best to offer legitimate SEO services. If that makes sense.  

Thanks Rand! I've made a note to slag you off more in future comments ;-)

Boy... nobody wanted to come to my defense?  Will... i didn't say it was unfair to get caught speeding... I just said that if your going 65 in a 55 while writing down my license plate number because I am going 100... you're a hypocritical crybaby. 

We actually run a comparably clean firm these days. I am not advocating cheating... I just think people should enjoy the game more. SEO is like hockey... it's always going to be a little dirty. If you don't have the sack for a fight, stay off the ice. 

 "SEO tactics that breached their webmaster guidelines which have been around, like, forever" dude... these guidelines have changed several times in major ways in just the last couple years. I'm not sure where you have been. 

Also... Google is at war with us not the other way around. 

Lastly, isn't it a little dumb to say "enough ragebait" while you have a rage-worm hanging from your lip?