It happens a couple times a year. Last year, I think I only got one because we slipped in our Google rankings. After making a few changes to my site and starting the blog, I’ve managed to work my way up the results page again.And it never fails, when my sites start moving up. The threatening emails begin.
Disgruntled webmasters, mostly. Some try to be ‘anonymous’ and others are outright about their identity. Most of the agents are smart enough to not send me threats directly, but I can usually track the webmaster back to the agent.
You know what? If my site passes yours in the SERPs, that’s not my problem. Go do better yourself. Don’t try to threaten or intimidate me.
And you know what else? I don’t care if you don’t like how I get my site higher than yours. I own hundreds of domains and I am my own hosting facility. I can do lots of stuff cheaply that would cost you a lot of money without the kind of resources and ability that I have. I bet it sucks to be you.
But hey – I’m far from perfect. If you learn about some new case law that hasn’t crossed my path yet, and you want to let me know of a brand new compliance issue, I’ll be thankful and make the proper changes. You don’t need to phrase it in the form of thinly veiled threats.
You don’t scare me. Get out of my Inbox.
Mike Price
February 6, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Why would someone do that? Unless you are using someone else’s trade name, trademark or service mark in your keywords and/or google ads, how could you be threatened? I don’t quite get it.
Ines
February 6, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Kelly – you get threats? that’s absurd!! THE NERVE of those people!
Benn Rosales
February 6, 2008 at 6:11 pm
We’ve gotten the same threats as well, and once found our site backlinked from dead pages with zero rank. There’s some shady crap that goes on in SEO, and there are some shady webmasters, but what’s worse is that for a price, your ranking can sleep with the fishes.
JeffX
February 6, 2008 at 8:01 pm
I get a ‘threatening’ email apprx 2-3 times per month, everything from ‘I’m gonna hack your site down’ to ‘Im gonna kick your a** if/when I see you in person.
It means you’re doing something right…keep at it.
Ines
February 6, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Oh man! Now I fee horrible and unloved and not-popular and all those things that go along with hate mail. I FEEL LEFT OUT!!
Kelley Koehler
February 6, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Mike – you’re thinking too logically. Why does a bully push other people around unprovoked?
Ines – you’re welcome to have my hate mail! I’ve had enough.
Benn, Jeff – good to know I’m not the only one!
Orlando Florida Homes For Sale
February 7, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Sounds like road rage in the SEO world. I can’t imagine someone doing this either but people never cease to amaze me. Congrats on your ranking!
I wouldn’t let the disgrutaled webmaster bother you it just means that they are not doing what they should for their client to get the ranking and there just mad because they know they have to suceed.
Greg Cremia
February 8, 2008 at 11:59 am
I just received the second complaint about my site from the MLS committee in the last 3 months. My site has been in the top 4 serps for 4 months.
It’s funny how they don’t have a problem with the other 800 agents in our MLS doing the same thing. All I can say is “bring it on”.
Teresa Boardman
February 8, 2008 at 3:11 pm
They really hate me. 🙂 I have even talk to some CEO’s of some pretty big companies that used to have my slot. I am thrilled to be so hated.
orlandoluxuryhomesearch
October 11, 2011 at 6:29 am
wow..nice
Some try to be ‘anonymous’ and others are outright about their identity.