SEO may feel 'backlash' from social media groups

The search engine optimisation (SEO) sector may feel a "backlash" as some groups use sites such as blogs to create external links, industry commentator WebProNews claims.

Blogs and other social media websites have been seen to take action against users who add SEO-style comments to posts, Joe Lewis writes on the site.

However, he warns that the legitimate SEO market may find itself the recipient of negative public perception as such comments are likely to be banned completely on social media sites.

"It's an extreme response to be sure and one I'm not altogether pleased with," Mr Lewis states.

He continues that it is "only reasonable" to expect that some of the resentment such techniques may cause could be displaced on to the SEO market as a whole.

Mr Lewis' comments follow claims from Jason Calacanis, chief executive officer of the Weblogs network, that "90 per cent of the SEO market is made up of snake oil salesmen".

Writing on his site, Mr Calacanis argues that social media optimisation is unlikely to work in the long-term as "the whole point of social media is to be real".

Back 09.02.2007.