TOTALLY Whitehat - Paying for something (SEO certification)!

[robertodelgato]

I found this company by following a thread in the downloads forum here, and noticed they have a $300 certification course going for...

$89!

http://www.seocertification.org/apply.php

Now I know most of you - if you don't do offline SEO - may never need this, but when you can put the logo on your business cards, letterhead, websites, etc. it does add incredible validity to your business.

Frankly, I was 1/2way to setting up my *ahem* OWN certification site, but for $89 it's not worth the effort. I'll just use their graphics, etc.

The 2008 version of their manual is available in member downloads.

PS. That's not an affilate link...I don't even know if they have affiliates.

 

[Black-Cracka]

What a load of shit.

 

[robertodelgato]

Gee, newbie thanks for the comment -especially since you are clearly the expert on shit.

Thanks for taking time off of trolling in The Marketplace to drop your load here.

What a load of shit.

 

[inumel]

HAHAHH now that is funny

 

[Jekashi]

Gee, newbie thanks for the comment -especially since you are clearly the expert on shit.

Thanks for taking time off of trolling in The Marketplace to drop your load here.

It's hard to disagree with him though, especially when he's so brutally honest about a SEO certification course.

This reminds me of the Microsoft Office 2003 certification courses that used to be offered back in my High School. The funny thing is that while everyone rushed out to get them, I believe a year or two later they were all invalidated because they were fairly worthless.

 

[robertodelgato]

The value of the resource is NOT in the course...it's in the certification.

For people who don't know anything about SEO - I call them CUSTOMERS - it can be a huge deal to have some sort of 'certificate' that you can display from an organization they can check out online. It separates you from the dozens/hundreds of other people in your marketplace who probably don't have any type of certification (and usually no knowledge other than some webinar course they paid $7 for).

If someone doesn't realize that's worth $89, then I encourage them not to buy it. Because I will.

Like I said, I was about to set up my own website 'international seo professionals unlimited' or some BS that I could use as certifiication, when I came across this company. The book isn't bad -it would be invaluable for noobs - and the website has current information (in the members area).

By the way, those MS certifications? In my area employers list those as 'experience preferred'. Again, if you don't know you look for clues.

F I N A L L Y...

I know this is a 'blackhat' site, and we're sposed to be all l33t and shit...

...but a certain amount of courtesy is not only useful it's necessary when you have the hugely diverse crowd that inhabit this wonderful resource. I love it here because it is NOT DP or similar forums.

There are ways to say things, and 'in my opinion, I don't think this is worth a dime, much less $89 because blahblahblah' says what you mean without disrespecting the OP.

'What a load of shit' without explanation says that they are a newbie asshole looking to up their post count.

It's hard to disagree with him though, especially when he's so brutally honest about a SEO certification course.

This reminds me of the Microsoft Office 2003 certification courses that used to be offered back in my High School. The funny thing is that while everyone rushed out to get them, I believe a year or two later they were all invalidated because they were fairly worthless.

 

[sparky123]

Sycthos got a valid point.

So what is wrong if we just buy another domain name, slap in a professional looking wordpress theme and said we got 'certified' from that site? In reality we control both sites, the customer will never know. Hmm, then it all comes down to 'I never heard of you or you before.' A no name referring to a no name. Even Google requires you to have backlinks from high PR sites to matter to them.

My opinion is you either set something like this up to trick newbies in this business (they learn very fast of your tricks) or play with the offline peoples ignorance (hmm, if they were ignorant about SEO, what makes you think they even care about websites?) and for those who wants SEO for their existing sites, they are requiring very advanced skills and they will test you to see how much you really weight.

Didn't mean to pour rain on your parade. Anyway, good luck on your new venture.

 

[brewt]

I agree with the OP. Go ask the average business owner in your city if they no what SEO is, and 99% wouldn't have a clue. If you tell them you can get more visitors to their website by using SEO, than they might have an interest. If you then give them your business card and it shows you are certified in SEO, it may get their attention even more.

I am sure it is not going to hurt to have some type of certification. Just don't get your SEO certification from http://seotraining.com

 

[robertodelgato]

1) As I said before - I DON'T OWN THAT SITE. I found it when someone in downloads shared the manual from the course.

2) If I wanted to fool you, you ignorant newbie, you wouldn't even know you were being fooled before you woke up with a sore butt and a dollar bill in your hand.

3) You're welcome!

It's okay to admit that you own the site. Just please don't try to fool us.

 

[robertodelgato]

You're right, he does have quite a point.

Unfortunately, it seems to be located on top of his head in this case.

Holy crap. Talk about missing the point. This is why I love to share information in this crowded playground...NOT! (Ok, sometimes I do.)

Did anyone actually read the original post? Of course by read, I would assume a minimal amount of understanding in the reading of it... and I am hampered by having english as my first language.

Hey, I'm not interested in another boring flame war. That wasn't my intent in posting that link. Sycthos and others were expressing their opinion, just like I shoot off my own mouth here in other forums.

I'm going back to making money with what I know, and others don't. I'm happy to keep it that way.

GOD BLESS US - EVERYONE!

Here endeth the lesson.

Sycthos got a valid point.