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View Full Version : Discovery Card in the SEO business?


eitemiller
08-27-2004, 04:49 PM
So we got a call from our Discovery Card people. I do not know how they do this, but they say they are doing it - say they have a "patnership" with the SE's. Their example was go to G or Y and type in semi repair. Their client is #1 on both. He only have a small handful of LB's, and the page isn't really optimized for that term. In Dmoz, he is like 7 or 9. Discovery says that for $44.95 a month, they can do this for just about any keyword.

Anyone else heard of this or tried it? No contract to sign, so if you do not see results in the first 30 days, you can bail.

Incubator
08-27-2004, 05:25 PM
Is this the url in question on Yahoo?

http://216.109.117.135/search/cache?p=semi+repair&pstart=1&b=1&u=www.partnershiptrucks.com/&w=semi+repair&d=4ABDEBC156&icp=1&.intl=us

They only show 2 links at google as well, looks like they targeting onsite only....
Cheers

WC

Nacho
08-27-2004, 05:41 PM
You mean . . .?

http://assets.webservices.websitepros.com/images/brandlogo/Switchboard_Discover_WSP.gif

seobook
08-27-2004, 06:01 PM
you cant get a #1 ranking in any term you want in google for $50 a month. if the offer still stands I would like a free 30 day trial for "online casino"...tell them to give me a call

eitemiller
08-27-2004, 06:04 PM
That's a big yes to both of those posts. That is the right site, the semi repair site at http://www.partnershiptrucks.com/. I guess he choose to put the Discovery logo at the bottom the page, but it is a choice, according to the salesman, we do NOT have to put that on our site.

What do you peoples think? If I do talk the boss into it, I will keep you all posted as to how it goes. The salesman even suggested we target the kw "vacation" which has a HUGE amount of competition - I explain that we do NOT plan vacations, but peple might use our site if they knew they were going somewhere, and wanted more info about that place, such as what to do, etc.

Salesman says this "deal" is only offered to current Discovery customers. Let me know what you all think. Thanks a bunch!

seobook
08-27-2004, 06:12 PM
That's a big yes to both of those posts. That is the right site, the semi repair site at http://www.partnershiptrucks.com/. I guess he choose to put the Discovery logo at the bottom the page, but it is a choice, according to the salesman, we do NOT have to put that on our site.

What do you peoples think? If I do talk the boss into it, I will keep you all posted as to how it goes. The salesman even suggested we target the kw "vacation" which has a HUGE amount of competition - I explain that we do NOT plan vacations, but peple might use our site if they knew they were going somewhere, and wanted more info about that place, such as what to do, etc.

Salesman says this "deal" is only offered to current Discovery customers. Let me know what you all think. Thanks a bunch!

if you try it for vacation then I think you will be bailing after one month. its up to you though.

here is how I look at it. what can they do for $50 that I can't do for $50? and this question comes to mind "are search engines willing to throw their editorial integrity out the window for $50?"

eitemiller
08-27-2004, 06:17 PM
Side note: the page we are looking at, for "semi repair" - Mr. Salesman says he has only been a client for 3 weeks. Says he can hit our keywords and get us to the top of SE's within one month, before we would see the bill.

Aaron - I will ask if there are limitations to the choice of keywords - such as "online casino". This dude is calling us back Monday. Got any good questions I should ask?

eitemiller
08-27-2004, 06:19 PM
if you try it for vacation then I think you will be bailing after one month. its up to you though.

here is how I look at it. what can they do for $50 that I can't do for $50? and this question comes to mind "are search engines willing to throw their editorial integrity out the window for $50?"

True enough, I fully agree. But why would a reputable company like Discovery take a chance like this? Why tarnish their rep by promising something they can't do? If it was some crazy Joe from Joe's SEO, I would ahve dismissed it immediatly.

It just does not make any sense, lol.

seobook
08-27-2004, 06:25 PM
True enough, I fully agree. But why would a reputable company like Discovery take a chance like this? Why tarnish their rep by promising something they can't do? If it was some crazy Joe from Joe's SEO, I would ahve dismissed it immediatly.

It just does not make any sense, lol.

perhaps the person selling the service is not informed about what he is trying to sell?

because a person calls from Discover it does not mean that the particular phone call will be coherent or useful.

you can give them a try, but I would ask a bunch of questions...and I would target online casino ;)

eitemiller
08-27-2004, 06:32 PM
You crack me up, SEObook.

Is there a relationship between Discovery and Switchboard.com? I noticed " Switchboard is a subsidiary of InfoSpace, Inc." - so maybe a relationship between Discovery and InfoSpace? I have no idea where I am going with this...

sugarrae
08-27-2004, 06:39 PM
"What do you peoples think?"

If you could get quality, or even half-assed SEO for 50 dollars a month for money terms, then good quality SEO's wouldn't make what they do. Neither would affiliates. Tell him to send you a copy of that "partnership agreement" in writing.

There is no easy money. I can't say that loud enough or with enough authority. There is no easy money.

If 50 bucks a month were all it took to be #1 on any search term, hell, even #20 in some industries - Overture and Adwords would be out of business. As the saying goes, if it sounds to good to be true...

Incubator
08-27-2004, 07:51 PM
what can they do for $50 that I can't do for $50?
Offer nothing but doorways to entrance sites, even that would be expecting to much....50.00 its all automated.....here today gone tomorrow

cheeers

Wc

rcjordan
08-27-2004, 08:08 PM
> "are search engines willing to throw their editorial integrity out the window for $50?"

What concerns me is that the SEs are all currently jockeying for market dominance in local search and switchboard is an old-timer in this field. I can see the advantages (and trade-offs involved) of establishing an alliance now to gain an edge. Where this line of thinking falls apart is that it would seem unlikely that both G and Y would agree to the same scheme with switchboard. OTOH, something does seem to smell a bit off, doesn't it?

Incubator
08-27-2004, 08:26 PM
Interesting follow up that happened today:

Wanted to share with you all.

we got contacted by a online marketing director today from a "vacation " type of business, within hotels, travel,holiday...etc....kind of thing.

He visited our website and wanted a price/proposal type of thing.
I ask the gentleman if he had went to the site and also went to the pricing page.He said yes. That is our top most traffied page anyways.
so he asked for a one year proposal, so I sent the quote, which included organic SEO, small PPC and PFI also an aggressive linking campaign to boot.

I got a return email saying "this is way to high" can we remove PPC, PFI and a 20.00 reduction (hourly) in staff hour pricing across the board.Dont forget we charge in CAD even to US clients.Also our money is monopoly money compared to USA! aside from that.....

I redid the quote, not changing our staffing price,this was getting a little silly to me right about now.but i did remove all PPC and PFI and cut out one link brokerage deal(that was priced per month)

He replies to me " WOW!!!! your still in business with prices like this...Im getting service now from India for 200.00 USD per month.To me there is noway you can justify your price"

Now.....I am pi**ed.

So I wished him best of luck and then added "if you are content with what you are getting why are you surfing for other SEO/SEM why dont you just grab that 49.95 special as well and show the boss the numbers? I have yet to get the return and at this point even if we could work something out...is this a client we want to have.

So, a word of wisdom to you young webmasters, do what you do...do it well....do not wh**e yourselves out. You already know within yourself, all these get rich things don't work, thats why your here at SEW, you are already more advanced then the typical internet user out there.

Its all about research and constant education..no one can put a 200.00 tag on that.It's called Intelectual Property.

Sorry about the ramble, but needed to vent.

So I will end this post with same statement to Discovery, i used to the guy that inquired regarding travel

Discovery:
Best of Luck, we will be here when you need us

Cheers

WC

Boomigotyomom
11-09-2004, 07:05 PM
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:eek:

ihelpyou
11-10-2004, 07:33 AM
We also continue to resubmit your Web site to these search engines to enhance your site's positioning and visibility. Because of this, your site has the greatest chances of having premier positioning in these search engines.
I hate scams. You are a funny person.

Tell us again how submitting over and over again helps?

Also tell us how many clicks for 44 bucks a month for PFI in Yahoo gets us?

Please bud, I don't believe that you even believe we all could be so naive.

Kal
11-10-2004, 08:15 PM
Sorry about the ramble, but needed to vent.
WC I feel your pain. I get about one of these per week and it is such a waste of time! I particularly hate it when these tire kickers keep asking for further and further discounts when you have done all you can to reduce the price already.

Or they use the old "we are in very poor country and can't afford such high prices" excuse. Then why on earth aren't they asking for a quote from someone in their own country?? I've learnt not to spend too much time on tire kickers and not to give out too detailed a proposal. I suspect many of them are competitors trying to solicit commercial-in-confidence information anyway :mad:. I like your kiss off line to them, I may use that!

Kal
11-10-2004, 08:18 PM
Also tell us how many clicks for 44 bucks a month for PFI in Yahoo gets us?Actually Doug, I think this is just the cost for Constant Contact. At least that's what I pay for my CC subscription. But you're right, the layout is very misleading.

hotdoti
12-09-2004, 07:23 PM
This for the person that decided to post information that obviously they hadnt studied first . I joined Discovery for the SEO program for 44.95$ with no contracts and I have seen over 100% return They have helped me in a way I thought that I would never find so please untill you have your facts straight dont go bad mouthing a company that has been very successful in every thing that they do!

eitemiller
12-09-2004, 11:15 PM
Very interesting post coming from someone who is making thier first post. Tell me, which site of yours did they do work for? Which keywords did they optimize your site for?

It is a complete waste of money. The catcher is when they claim to have a "special relationship" with the search engines. That's when I knew this company was a scam...