I am not trying to deceive anyone, but am trying to include everyone.
I am helping the search engine marketing community establish an approved SEO process, which can be sold as an “SEO service.” A good example of a proven process that is delivered as a service is that any CPA working for a public organization must understand the GAAP process to properly provide accounting services. They can still provide accounting practices to anyone they choose, but cannot claim them as GAAP, unless they follow the GAAP guidelines.
While SEO as a process has plenty of processes suggested throughout the community, there is no “approved” process by any governing body. Because the Search community has no approved SEO process, the industry has been riddled with used car salesmen, con-artists and rip-offs, resulting in a black-eye within the industry, and thousands of ripped off businesses throughout the country. We can change this with the SEO trademark.
My goal in owning the trademark for the word SEO is not to try to force people to change their SEO process, but rather, prevent companies from selling “SEO” as a service under false pretenses.
Rather than try to control the industry and choose the process myself I wish for the industry to create the “approved process.” I don’t want to stop people from performing the process of SEO however they like, BUT, if you are selling “SEO” as a service, it is important to follow the approved guidelines set by the community. Otherwise, our industry will continue to be viewed as a snake-oil industry.
I invite communities from SEOmoz, Web Pro News, Search Engine Watch, SE Roundtable, etc. to help form the guidelines for good SEO.
If you are interested in helping form the industry approved SEO guidelines, please contact me here, and I will follow up with you shortly.
We will also be forming a board of directors to oversee changes to the process, and format in which SEO can be sold (basically the BBB for the SEO industry). We will restrict businesses from selling the process of SEO as an “SEO” service if they do not meet the process approved by the SEO trademark requirements. Those approved will use SEO as normal, but will now be able to use the term as SEO™, and will be able to claim that their SEO service is approved under SEO trademark guidelines.
First off; who are you? I can't find much of anything about Jason whatsoever. In my mind you are taking advantage of a government body who knows next to nothing about our industry to begin with. Your creativity is indeed noteworthy, but your methods of "forcing" things upon the community is also worth noting.
I, almost more so than anyone else in this industry have wanted some kind of "best practice" standards since 1996. I'm here to tell you the way you are proposing things will not work. Period.
Sorry Jason.
Alternatively, you could go trademark it!
Brent D. Payne
http://www.brentdavidpayne.com
If you wanted to do what you say you wanted to do you would have tried to brand the new standard around something else other than the generic term for it (used internationally, colloquially, etc.)
Using your surprisingly rational example above - you should have trademarked the acronym "GASEO" (Generally Accepted Search Engine Optimization) - or something similar.
When the AICPA went out to create a standard they didn't use the term "accounting" - or if they did they weren't successful at it.
I believe that any standards set have to start with the actual search engine guidelines for webmasters. The major engines already have them on their sites. The problem I have with them is that they are not enforced. Then, when they are enforced the se's turn around and offer PPC advertising to the blackhats anyway. For instance; I don't believe blackhats are SEO's. I call them cheaters. Any standards must disallow them.
I would rather have a group made up of search engine people, totally unbiased and experienced people who have experience in this sort of thing, and a few quality SEO types who know all the issues involved, ...than all the governments coming up with their own standards for the industry.
I'm certainly not against SEO standards, but it does depend on many, many things.
"Buyer Beware" should not play a part with standards either. That's based on the assumption that the general public understands what you are warning them about.
Not sure if I would like to piss of them by snatching their initials. That could be a bigger blow than some Search Engine Optimization community complains...
Opposition pending at the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. This application will not survive.
You still have to pay to get your trademark class registered in every country you want it to apply to. Each national office gets a set amount of time to object to the trademark, if they don't, it is accepted at a national level. Look at the http://www.wipo.int site or the Madrid System for more info.
Tool!
Trying to trademark the term, rather than joining efforts with existing communities, and groups just make you appear opportunistic.
and this - "Marketing services in the field of computers..." Huh?
Still, congrats on being VERY creative, and I'm stunned nobody's already tried this.
Scott Hendison
http://www.searchcommander.com
Sam's Club Online Services
You can expect to see a lot of Main Street SEO shops shuttered shortly and their staff greeting you at Wal-Mart as in you sneak in for a bag of athletic socks.
I mean who can compete with this?:
Hand submission of your website URL to the major search engines and directories.
Regulation of the SEO industry means that search engines will be able to devote more time to the quality of their results and to the overall improvement of their product and less time fighting manipulation attempts from those who would game the engines. This leads to increased end user satisfaction and therefore increased usage and profits.
It's really great news, wall mart is coming in SEO and SEM industry, let me tell you it will make retail market so much competitive online what u think?
http://www.bloomtools.com
"Trying to trademark the term, rather than joining efforts with existing communities, and groups just make you appear opportunistic."
Jason called me. We talked. He revealed much more to me on things I was concerned with. We are on the very same page. I hope his trademark gets all the way through. The SEO industry does indeed need this.
I also hope the major search engines get on board with this as well. If something is not done with the SEO industry, and soon, the government will jump in anyway. We do NOT want that to happen.... no one should/would want that to happen.
He has satisfied all the concerns I had with this.
Scott; you cannot believe for one second that an existing group out there like SEMPO could be the "gatekeeper" of the SEO industry, could you? Heck; they take money from any type firm to be a circle member. They are about the least capable group in my opinion.
Something needs to be done. Just because Jason is trying to trademark the term SEO doesn't mean he's a bad guy. In my opinion, he's a damn smart guy. Didn't we all know that something might happen in the future anyway? The future just happens to be now is all. If you are a clean SEO who follows the se guidelines, and you don't offer submission to 5000 fake search engines, and other bogus stuff like that, you have absolutely nothing to worry about.
The SEO industry seems to be afraid of things like this. I have to wonder why?