seo contest charity scam - Page 2

hulkster · 01-20-2006, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnScott

I just think it would be cruel to dangle the money in front of them and then see them get nothing if your page doesn't win.

Rest assured I discussed it with them at great length before the contest ... and emphasized that realistically, my chance of winning it for them was probably less than 5% since a buncha SEO pro's would be in the contest ... but they still thought it was an idea worth a shot and one they would support, especially because I've worked with them before.

So I certainly didn't dangle the money in front of them and while they would love to win, they understand that it probably will result in zippo. However, there is also an awareness aspect since this is often mis/un-diagnosed disease and they really appreciate that part.

Heck man, contact the Operations Director Pam King at the Center for Celiac Research if anyone really wants to pursue this ... and then show me another charity web site entry out there that is this much on-board.

John Scott · 01-20-2006, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hulkster

Rest assured I discussed it with them at great length before the contest ... and emphasized that realistically, my chance of winning it for them was probably less than 5% since a buncha SEO pro's would be in the contest ...

I'm guessing that SEO will not win this - viral linkage will.

Bjorn Solstad · 01-20-2006, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnScott

I'm guessing that SEO will not win this - viral linkage will.

That is my guess as well. Nothing beats natural links. No matter what way they become natural.

bcombs · 01-20-2006, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnScott

I'm guessing that SEO will not win this - viral linkage will.

Which gives Hulkster's entry a real shot!

Brian

John Scott · 01-20-2006, 01:00 PM

sixty6 · 01-20-2006, 01:25 PM

hey hulkster good luck with the charity

hulkster · 01-20-2006, 03:32 PM

Thanx cphosts

digidogstudios · 01-20-2006, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnScott

Hulkster, I'm only offering to donate if you don't place first in the contest. If you place first, I'll be sending them three grand. (My grand and ShoeMoney's two grand. Stoner can take care of payment himself.)

I just think it would be cruel to dangle the money in front of them and then see them get nothing if your page doesn't win.

this is exactly my point, Please do not mis-understand me, I have just as much sympathy for charities and this guy trying to promote the charity especially since it is on a personal level

my complaint is how the charity is used to make this seo contest into a who-is-a-nicer-person contest. Therefore having people sympathize and perhaps feel guilty over not letting you win or not donating because you lost

I apologize for my first comments on the subject, I think it is great how you seem to have a steady and firm goal on getting this charity more popular etc. That is a good deed without question. I just think it is unwise to get it involved into something that is very competitive like this, because this contest is about seo, not charities

hulkster · 01-21-2006, 12:15 AM

No problem digidogstudios - lotta FUD floating around in this contest and I'm sure we'll see a lot more. As an example, www.the-elursrebmem.com says the following:

# 2006/01/17: Well, I am noticing that I am on page 4 now, toggling between page 3 and 4. This is going to be really interesting to see where this is going to go. I wont provide a url or mention their name, but there is a certain contestant who claims to donate to charity if he wins, well everybody, I can tell you 100% that it is a scam. It is a genius idea, but cheap if you ask me!

# 2006/01/18: Well, I mentioned yesterday about a certain individual who is also trying to achieve success with v7ndotcom elursrebmem! Alot of people seem to be falling for his scam, but I will find a way around it definitely. If I win this contest, I will keep the money, and I will put my favorite songs on the ipod that I would also win. There. At least I am being honest about it, and not trying to scam you by making you think I am going to give it to a charity. Shame on him.

Interestingly enough, the owner of that site, Steven Hargrove, sent me an Email with a link request on January 17th - read more about that here and my two cents there is:
... but I assume me means someone else because he didn't check to see that the University of Maryland says they are "pleased to be the possible beneficiary of the latest Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Contest" which was up even before the contest started. I'll give Steve credit as he does state on his site "If I win this contest, I will keep the money, and I will put my favorite songs on the ipod that I would also win" as honesty is a good thing. He's got a cute picture of his son saying "help my daddy by linking to this website!" which I think is a nice approach ... so I wish him the best.

So I'm real curious to know which contest site www.the-elursrebmem.com knows is 100% a scam as that would be good information to share here. I would also be curious if digidogstudios has an problems with the "help my daddy" approach on that site - again, I thought it was a nice touch.

P.S. One last data point for the nay-sayers out there, and then I'll try to ignore this thread. I had several discussions with John after he announced this contest, and here's a snippet from a 12-31-2005, 09:21 AM Private Message I sent to John: "If the page wins, *ALL* proceeds go to charity" ... which John can confirm.

digidogstudios · 01-21-2006, 12:35 AM

it is a little hard to follow any of your posts, because they look like a content generator wrote them, do you really have to put a link out of each of your posts? redundant a bit

Let me first say that my personal involvement in this seo contest is strictly personal involvement, and it goes no further than perhaps my interests in seo in my career.

I did write those comments on my contesting page because that is what I believed at that time, however I am not proud of my initial opinion of your charity strategy, however if you are implying that I remove what I said, then you are wasting your breath

Instead of trying to make me look like I am a bad person and trying to get everybody to convert their sympathy for the charity into hatred towards me, why not respond with something a little more productive? As in why you choose to through a charity into an seo contest where things do go crazy after a while? Charities are of higher stature than that in my opinion. Nonetheless I won't go too far on critiscizing your strategy because personally I think it is a genius strategy, but I also think it is an inappropriate place for a charity to be.

I wish you luck in your efforts to win the competition

John Scott · 01-21-2006, 12:43 AM

I would like to say, I think it's unfortunate that anybody here should be accused of scamming. I think it's probably due to the suspicious nature of the Internet. Every day people are scammed on the Internet, and Internet users grow suspicious of anything and everything they read on the Internet.

I've known Hulkster for quite a while and I can say without reservation it is not a scam, and I think we'll all in agreement on that.

It's just unfortunate that the Internet is what it is, that makes us suspicious of everything.

Nintendo · 01-21-2006, 03:35 AM

In his first reply he admited the real reason why he made the thread.

Quote:

Originally Posted by digidogstudios

well, to be completely honest I am pissed because I didnt think of it first lol

And it had nothing to do with being suspicious but just jealous that some one else thought of it first! He probably has the exact same opinion on milliondollarhomepage.com.

John Scott · 01-21-2006, 03:41 AM

Kind of hard to not be pissed at that million dollar home page guy. He went and did it and ruined it for me, and I'm sure I would have thought of doing that sooner or later.

(Not really)

Michael Allison · 01-21-2006, 04:01 AM

Digidog, it's obvious that you are missing some of the point. It's plain that Hulkster takes every opportunity to promote the charity he is dedicated to. It's unfortuante that you think he is doing that solely to gain an advantage. I can't see how it's a big advantage, but for the sake of argument, let's assume it is.

Well, so what? This is a contest to see who can rank first, by whatever means. That's clear in the rules... there are no rules. Whether his ambitions are noble or not is irrelevant.

Sour grapes and poor sportsmanship don't belong here.

And, seriously, your comments have been tacky, at best, and outright slanderous, at worst. Once again, I suggest you do a modicum of research before you make wild accusations. I'd also advise to not be the least bit surprised the next time you are falsely accused of something by someone. That's how kharma works. Kharma's a merciless bitch with uncanny timing - beware.

sitetutor · 01-21-2006, 04:33 AM

I think what Digidog has a problem with is what he considers an unfair advantage when it comes to Hulkster's links. I know Digi personally, and know he works very hard on this trying to win. So my advice is: Let things roll. Maybe more people will start donating to charity. I find it interesting to see the war of the strategies.