Post AJ629WS5cW6j81p5Pc by rysiek@mastodon.technology
(DIR) More posts by rysiek@mastodon.technology
(DIR) Post #AIwvgRR6qFqN1iTW08 by rysiek@mastodon.technology
2022-04-29T18:05:17Z
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Ok, so. I have a blog. Blog lists an e-mail address. So I get SEO spam requests. "Dear R, I read your blogpost <url> and I really think it would benefit from the link to my post <url>".The post being peddled is inevitably just dull or bullshit. It's only purpose is to rack SEO for the main domain, that always sells some shitty service or another.I usually ignore such e-mails……but this time the guy is really persistent. And is getting on my nerves.So, I have an idea. And I want to know how bad it is.
(DIR) Post #AIwvgS80Gm9fAkXlrM by rysiek@mastodon.technology
2022-04-29T18:08:16Z
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I want to respond with:"""Hi,thanks for reaching out. My going rate for a link placed on my blog is $500USD, and I get to decide where and how I place it, and in what content. It will be placed in a regular blogpost on the blog in question, reachable by search engines, of course.I require payment of the half of the sum (non-refundable) before I prepare the specific placement offer, for you to accept or reject.(cont.)
(DIR) Post #AIwvgSjvzkUp4OI3yy by rysiek@mastodon.technology
2022-04-29T18:10:37Z
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The offer is final, and once rejected, I understand you are no longer interested in placing a link on my blog. At that point the initial payment is considered payment for my time and expertise in preparing the offer.If you accept the placement offer, I will put the link on-line within 10 work days, and I will expect payment at the latest a month from it went online.(cont.)
(DIR) Post #AIwvgTYGyalJaVqGRc by rysiek@mastodon.technology
2022-04-29T18:12:36Z
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Please be advised that any further communication that is not a clear rejection of this deal as outlined herein will accrue a $50 processing fee; any such further communication amounts to acceptance of these terms.Please let me know if these conditions are acceptable. I am looking forward to doing business with you."""Now, the questions are:1. is this clear enough such that when the guy is unhappy with my placement offer, he doesn't get to sue me for some bullshit;(cont.)
(DIR) Post #AIwvgUHeFt3frF4VAe by rysiek@mastodon.technology
2022-04-29T18:13:52Z
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2. will actually placing his link in a blogpost about how annoying SEO spam is and how bullshit the article in question is, still lead to his site getting the sweet sweet SEO juice?What does fedi think? :thaenkin:
(DIR) Post #AIwvgVEUj686nkbUtU by ilja@ilja.space
2022-04-29T18:20:08.566370Z
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@rysiek You ask $500USD, but don't state for how long the link will be active on your site for that money. (E.g. is it for one year, is it longer, do they have to renew, what are conditions for renewal, what if you want/need to bring the link down sooner...)For the rest I really really love the idea. One lesson in live I've had is to not say "no", but rather set out terms. This is exactly that. One problem here ofc is that I'm not sure about any legal aspect whatsoever here so I'd worry about that too.
(DIR) Post #AIwwkXQmayXgjPq7RA by rysiek@mastodon.technology
2022-04-29T18:30:38Z
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@ilja yeah, I would add "the blogpost along with the link will stay online for at least a year".The point is the blogpost with the link would talk about how shit it is anyway.
(DIR) Post #AIwwl4xXwBMGiaQFaS by kgerloff@mastodon.social
2022-04-29T18:18:37Z
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@rysiek I like the idea. You should go ahead and try it out.Its biggest drawback is that your proposal is more solid than anything such SEO scum usually deal with.My bet: 80% sure you’ll never hear back.If you’d make your texts available as a template, I would consider that a service to humanity.
(DIR) Post #AIwwl5j35ZM75ueBd2 by rysiek@mastodon.technology
2022-04-29T18:31:47Z
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@kgerloff > My bet: 80% sure you’ll never hear back.This is a win. 😃 > If you’d make your texts available as a template, I would consider that a service to humanity.Yeah, that's the plan, if I go through with it.
(DIR) Post #AJ3LIOFcnQfXxF3Sca by rysiek@mastodon.technology
2022-05-02T20:31:11Z
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The annoying SEO spammer is back. Sending him this e-mail. Hold on to your socks.
(DIR) Post #AJ3NZleVFBZxMb6amm by rysiek@mastodon.technology
2022-05-02T20:54:58Z
2 likes, 0 repeats
I even found out their invoicing details and included them in the e-mail as "The invoice will be made out to...".I fully expect never to hear from them again. And now I have a template for such dweebs.
(DIR) Post #AJ403YUMXxLhU0zdmi by rysiek@mastodon.technology
2022-05-02T21:39:46Z
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So here's the big question: when I inevitably do not hear from them again, should I do a follow-up e-mail next week (they did 5 already)?That would be funny, wouldn't it.
(DIR) Post #AJ403Z4AOpzNH3kEam by DrWhax@mastodon.social
2022-05-02T21:43:57Z
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@rysiek keep sending the invoice and threaten a collector lol
(DIR) Post #AJ403ZmTk5QzUUTcf2 by rysiek@mastodon.technology
2022-05-02T21:47:43Z
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@DrWhax kek.At some point it would edge too closely to "wire fraud" I'm afraid. Question is, where that point lies, exactly.
(DIR) Post #AJ403aT1BvShcQNay0 by DrWhax@mastodon.social
2022-05-02T21:55:37Z
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@rysiek I’m not a lawyer :-)
(DIR) Post #AJ403bI488IMAkGMXA by rysiek@mastodon.technology
2022-05-02T21:56:10Z
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@DrWhax NOW YOU TELL ME
(DIR) Post #AJ403c0jS41YPHA29g by DrWhax@mastodon.social
2022-05-02T21:58:41Z
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@rysiek agent provocateur
(DIR) Post #AJ403cguvDlgW6tiuO by andreasio@mastodon.social
2022-05-02T22:03:25Z
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@DrWhax @rysiek IANAL etc. I think you show ill will / bad intent or something similar. Just block the guy
(DIR) Post #AJ404AuvfdB8fPiOTA by rysiek@mastodon.technology
2022-05-02T22:04:09Z
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@andreasio @DrWhax yeah, but that's boring.
(DIR) Post #AJ404BRth3YAJf8irA by andreasio@mastodon.social
2022-05-02T22:06:01Z
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@rysiek @DrWhax It lacks that feeling of poetic justice... I know.
(DIR) Post #AJ404C0HdD3W2JEBSC by rysiek@mastodon.technology
2022-05-02T22:06:30Z
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@andreasio @DrWhax yeah.Ah well, I'll compromise, no follow-up e-mails unless they bother me again.
(DIR) Post #AJ40ZbJ3bdwjULzAWm by ilja@ilja.space
2022-05-03T04:17:55.778655Z
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@rysiek IMO, when you don't hear from them again, you should put the template somewhere public (under a free license and maybe somewhere where people can provide feedback). When you *do* hear from them again, you may also put it public, but accompany it with an explanation of further steps to take (what channels are used to get the money, are extra contracts needed, any pitfalls to be aware of when doing this...). I'd love to see this become a more common thing.
(DIR) Post #AJ4TTbnPloHXwMgDwm by rysiek@mastodon.technology
2022-05-03T08:56:25Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@ilja yup that's the plan!
(DIR) Post #AJ629WS5cW6j81p5Pc by rysiek@mastodon.technology
2022-05-03T21:58:30Z
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Just got another SEO spam e-mail and I kid you not the website in question (crypto peddling crap) has *glitches* in their huge header image, and Lorem Ipsum all over the place.Sent them the e-mail, waiting impatiently for their response.(never gonna come, I bet)
(DIR) Post #AJIHWe2gziF6EPpHMm by rysiek@mastodon.technology
2022-05-09T19:12:23Z
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I am happy to report that a solid 6 days later (for the first SEO scammer) and 5 days later (for the second one), neither decided to send me a reply nor even a reminder.So I chalk this up as a success. Usually I get a reminder after 3-4 days, and I got *several* from the first aforementioned nincompoop across about a month and to two separate e-mail addresses.I guess I need to write this up.You know, on my blog.That attracts SEO scammers.🤷♀️
(DIR) Post #AJIHWf35Fk9LLv16cC by rysiek@mastodon.technology
2022-05-09T19:19:09Z
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The next stage would be talking to a lawyer and figuring out if I can make this into a shrink-wrap EULA type thing (these are, after all, valid and binding as many lawsuits have "proven").You know:"Sending me an e-mail suggesting to put a link of your choosing on my blog confirms you have read and accepted these terms. The processing fee for such a requests is $100, non-refundable."That could have two outcomes:1. I never et to see SEO scam spam ever again.2. I get to invoice a SEO scammer one day.
(DIR) Post #AJIHWfvK05XE48OQ9g by rysiek@mastodon.technology
2022-05-09T19:21:17Z
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I mean, both are a win.