Forum Moderators: open
I've got a competitor who has x amount of clients, they work in groups of 5 clients per group and have a boatload of redirects. here's the scoop:
url of websites
www.website.com/1/index.html
www.website.com/2/index.html
www.website.com/3/index.html
www.website.com/4/index.html
www.website.com/5/index.html
Now on each of these client websites they mirror they same urls back to the other clients.
for instance, if I go to www.website.com/1/index.html and change the 1 to a 2 I get client #2 website as a sub-domain.
They do this with every client as far as I can tell, I've found 2 of their rings so far.
Is this legal let alone ethical?
I would never dream of doing such a thing but my ethics may not be yours, can I get some opinions or advice on how to handle this properly.
BTW I beat them out in PR, the main reason I ask is that they now have a huge client that I want and the client has asked me my opinion on a number of things regarding their site that my competition did (not fishing for ideas either, genuine questions regarding the net, seo, etc...), I also do outsource work for the client under one of their other names and designed the website for their third-party club. I want this contract (my kids need new shoes) I don't think that I'll say anything though, seems kinda' unscrupulous.
What do you think.
If not, then you just found out a technique you DON'T want to use, because it obviously doesn't work.
Of course it's legal - as far as "ethical" let's not go there, OK? We're here to learn about how to do business better and there are PLENTY of industries where MOST of the participants can get into heated debates which don't involve the internet.
Fact is, business is business - it's not personal, and business is about making money.
End of story ;)
My advice is learn everything you can, find out how to beat the competition, and make the money you are after. The more time you spend on *your* business the better *your business* will do in the long run, and then it will be your competitor's chasing your sites in the search engines & complaining it's not fair.
