SEO’s Without Hats
May 4th, 2006 by Michael Gray in Grayhat SEO, SEOIf you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Read my top posts or learn more about Michael Gray. Want more frequent updates follow me on Twitter. Thanks for visiting!
Unless I’m especially bored or am looking to stir up trouble somewhere I try to avoid white hat/black hat or other ethical debates like the plague. Basically they are time wasters and you’re never going to convince someone to change their mind. I’m sure somewhere someone out there considers me a “white hat”, also Senor Cutts recently let me know he thinks I’m “black hat” (see comments) and most people probably see me somewhere in middle. I’m cool with that, everyone’s perception is their own reality, but in my world I’m an SEO without a hat.
I firmly believe in the eastern philosophy each of us is what the situation requires us to be, we rise and fall with the ebb and flow, and by adapting to our surroundings we can find harmony and balance. Ok but enough with the David Carradine young grasshopper BS, let’s talk about search. When I work on a project if it’s my own or a clients, I look at the landscape. I evaluate the the risks and rewards and look for a solution that best matches the problem at hand. For example I do some free consulting for a charity for internet safety for children. This project has to be squeaky clean, absolutely no spammy, high risk, or even remotely questionable tactics are considered or brought into play. For me to use or even suggest that they use them would be professionally irresponsible. Now if was to take a gig for a live adult “dance club”, I’d feel to not bringing up those spammy, high risk and questionable tactics would be equally professionally irresponsible.
So does that make me a white hat, black hat, or gray hat? I know lots of people need to label everyone and everything, so their world is ordered into nice neat little boxes. However I’m not a nice fit in the box kind of guy. I do understand that we really can’t live in a civilized world if everyone is going to be chaotic, because nothing would ever get done. But here’s the thing, I don’t think most people are chaotic or want to be chaotic. I think most people have a lot of difficulty keeping up an Ayn Rand like lifestyle. So for everyone else who wants to be a white hat, black hat, gray hat or any other color hat that’s fine with me, and you can classify me anyway that makes you happy, but I’m Chapeau Challenged I’m going to SEO without a hat.
Sphere It
May 4th, 2006 at 6:23 am
To me, the terms black and white hat are marketing labels which apply to very specific things.
Black hats label themselves as rogues who will bend the rules (rebels without a pause).
White hats label themselves as good guys who will build sites clients can use for the long term.
Like most marketing labels, the terms fall short of explaining anything about the person wearing them.
May 4th, 2006 at 6:53 am
I think Matt was just giving you a hard time though I do notice that he takes notice when you say things like, “I have been playing a women on one of my sites and have had much success” cuz that shows the dark side of the serps.
I see you more as someone who pushes the limits unless you have 10k of splogs running in the background.
May 4th, 2006 at 9:59 am
[...] Check Your Hat at the Door - as long as you keep your ethics intact. Though none of us “are” anything, you can still hold firmly to fundamental values. [...]
May 4th, 2006 at 10:30 am
I agree with Aaron, you push the limits a little, but you are still careful. As long as clients are NOT getting in trouble, spamming, or being banned you are fine.
May 4th, 2006 at 11:06 am
I like the way you write and think.
Sincerely,
Ron
May 4th, 2006 at 2:09 pm
I find it rather funny that Matt has to resort to calling people names. If Google, with all it’s resources, can’t keep control of it’s own listings then they’re not as all powerful as they like to think they are.
May 4th, 2006 at 2:52 pm
I agree with you GW, I personally think that im a green hat, cause I don’t even know what im doing half the time.
May 4th, 2006 at 3:00 pm
Aaron nope not 10K but definitely more than 1.
I found Matt’s comments funny and wasn’t offended in the slightest way
May 4th, 2006 at 3:40 pm
yes it seemed like he didnt know what he was talking about so he automattically disagreed with you
May 6th, 2006 at 10:37 am
Hats, hats… I don’t like no feckin hats on me head so what now? LOL