Had an 'interesting' email from a host

on how to boost my(?) rankings

[adamas]

Had an email from one of my hosts today telling me how to get better SE rankings.

Basically, they were running a 'powered by' campaign the gist of which was that as they are so wonderful the SEs would see my site as more authoritative if I linked to them!

These people are saints to share this information with me so freely ;)

[Precious pearls]

Dear friend,

We are living in such a world where no one gives even advice for free. So think twice before doing anything. It may be possible it is for true.

P_P

[adamas]

Perhaps I should state my position less obliquely before too many people take this at face value.

I do not believe that they have my best interests at heart!

I do not know whether the email would be legally fraudulent, I'm still deciding whether to make a complaint and to whom, but I certainly feel as though they are trying to defraud me.

I cannot say for certain that linking to them would not benefit me but I'm certainly interested to know what research they've done to be so certain that it would. My understanding was that authorities were thematic and I very much doubt that a UK host is an authority in my niche.

I think it's unlikely but I'd also like to know how they are certain that they won't get banned and leave those who linked to them linking to a bad neighbourhood. There was certainly no mention of such complicated issues in the email.

It's a shame I can't post the email because my summary really does not do the sheer arrogance of it justice.

I would love to see the internal emails concerning this decision.

They can certainly assume they've lost my business on the strength of this.

[Marketing Guy]

I got the same email (twice actually! ;)).

It was badly written by someone clearly more sales-than-tech. The email / page focused too greatly on securing IBL's and didn't clarify that the host would be picking sites to feature on their site as well.

MG