Professional Liability Insurance: is necessary for a SEO?

[wrreisen]

Hi,

Do you think that Professional Liability Insurance: is necessary for a SEO just in case some major site gets dropped (although I actively avoid risky practices)?

I'm doing work as a freelancer for a New Media and internet company on their clients websites. They are going to have a contract made up with disclaimers in for their clients to sign. Do I need to have contracts drawn up with disclaimers in for dealing with the intermediary company? Are there any standard ones out there that I could download?

[john_k]

You can always be sued by anyone for (just about) any reason. Without the insurance, and if you are not set up as a corporation or other business entity that protects your personal assets, then you are leaving yourself open.

Some companies will require a consultant to carry a minimum amount of Professional Liability Insurance (also called E&O for Errors and Ommissions) before they will give them any work. The logic in this is that they DO want to make sure that they can get some type of satisfaction if you screw up AND that they DON'T particularly want to force you to sell your home. Having the insurance is also another indicator of your legitimacy in the field.