Tapolyai - 3:21 am on Apr 4, 2005 (gmt 0)

Gil0713, appreciate the points. I think my point was misunderstood. You and I understand (well not as much me) what is "the process the company/consultant will follow"... You and I grasp that "if done correctly, is a labor intensive job and takes quite a bit of research". Problem is SEO/SEM is a very very new "industry". It's not even an industry, it's a strange spawn of search engines.

paybacksa, it is different than any other professional because for a doctor you can look them up with medical board, a lawyer at legal bar, and a plumber at the Better Business Bureau (in the US). An electrictian, plumber, lawyer, and doctor have to earn a license.

As you said, indeed "certifying bodies", some I listed above do command some respect and do provide some assurances.

I wasn't talking about myself. I was talking about the general public.

The next major step in the SEO/SEM industry is to create an acceptable professional organization that has ethical and professional requirements. Such organization, (which might already exists) need to market SEO/SEM and make the organization the de facto requirement to be considered an SEO/SEM professional.

Example - In the US The term "Realtor" was created by an organization, and was made into a household name. A real-estate agent in the US who is not a member of the National Association of Realtor, will not make it. Prior to the NAR, there was no way of telling which agent was ethical or professional other then having an "expert" on hand as you suggested it.

You say that "Joe CEO needs to hire someone who does have web experience". Wait... Which came first, the chicken or the egg? If I hire someone who will recognize a decent SEO/SEM then they are capable of doing it, ergo I just hired someone. If they are not capable of recognizing it then what did I spend my money on?

What I am trying to say is we talk about how the tree has bark and branches, and there are leaves at the end of the twigs which hang off of the branches. We even discuss the root systems and such.

Most people don't even know there is a forest out there! SEO/SEM professionals NEED, no, MUST create a reputatable organization that will provide guidelines - more for the general public to see and realize their value, then for themselves.

:-D