SEOBy comes from "Search Engine Optimization By..." and is intended to be an informal professional organization for those that practice Search Engine Optimization, and operators of Internet search engines, vertical industry portals, and web directories

Security Expert Witness

SEOBy Meta Tag

The SEOBy meta tag is worthless, as are all the other tags that have been created whether by individuals or esteemed organizations.

This is, of course, unless they are actually used and recognized as being valid. The most common reaction by experts when they hear of a new tag is to scoff. They seem to feel that someone is trying to gain an unfair advantage, or pose as an "expert" when they may not have the experience or authority to do so. We feel this attitude should change.

Not that we need 999 new meta tags our there for all kinds of special purposes. But the fact is that while there are about 100 meta tags that have seen some use in the past, very few are in common use, both on sites and by systems that use them, the search engines and directories.

The organization name comes from the SEOBy Meta tag that was created in 2002 by Nielsen Technical Services of Minneapolis, Minnesota USA. The tag is intended to provide a verification system to identify the source of the optimization that has been applied to a specific web site. SEOBy means "Search Engine Optimization By".

The verification is to allow search engine and directory owners some level of assurance that a site containing the SEOBy tag will meet basic standards of good search engine optimization.

There has been some comment that the SEOBy tag is just another pathetic attempt at..what? Something to fool the search engines? Not likely, since at the moment they don't know what it is or how to use it. It is our hope that the situation changes in the near future, since we see a real need to make the SEO and submission process less labor-intensive.

Having a system where the work of SEO firms is "trusted" will result in less work for the SEO companies and the search engines and directories. Does this concept have a snowball's chance in hell? Why not? All it takes is for a large number of people to agree that the idea makes sense and join in. SEO firms can become members at no cost, and have a say in the direction of the organization.

Search engine operators are encouraged to also join for free and have an equal say in the say things are run. If the value of the SEOBy system is not recognized and becomes widespread, then it will be yet another failed attempt to organize and make the web more efficient, but at least we tried...

The SEOBy system is simple and works in this way:

- A SEO company becomes a registered SEOBy member and agrees to follow established guidelines of SEO best practices.

- The member's information is registered on the SEOBy web site, and is available to anyone needing to verify membership.

- When the member optimizes a client web site, they add the SEOBy Meta tag to the pages. The web site URL is also added to the member's SEOBy site list.

- When the site is inspected for inclusion into the index of a search engine or directory, the tag is located and then verified at the SEOBy website.

- Depending on the level of trust given to the SEOBy verification, the site may more easily be accepted for inclusion, or the inclusion may be automatic.

- Any member found not following good SEO practices will have their account terminated and site list file erased. There may be an appeal process, but the rules should be written up so that there is little or no "gray area".

 

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