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SEO Code of Ethics Why is a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Code of Ethics important?
Yes Miriam, it's true. Some search engine practices may get your website banned by the search engines!	Want to loose your search engine rankings? Some people find it hard to believe but if you try to "trick" search engines with some tactics aimed at getting higher search engine rankings and more website traffic you can loose your website rankings or even get banned by the search engines. Custom Fit goes to great lengths to follow best practices that increase website performance in an ethical and responsible manner!

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Custom Fit Online voluntarily adheres to the SEO Code of Ethics noted below, whereas all parties are working towards presenting relevant and high quality information in an easy to use format to information seekers, and whereas Custom Fit Communications is being contracted to assist clients in obtaining higher rankings for client pages.

Custom Fit Online Solutions will not intentionally do harm to a client. This involves the continued use of any technology or procedure (without appropriate care) that is known to result in having the client site removed from search engine indexes or directories, or rendered inoperative. Questionable adherence to standards must be addressed via the Robots Exclusion Standard.

We will not intentionally violate any specifically published and enforced rules of search engines or directories. Should rules and guidelines change (as they often do), the Custom Fit SEO staff will promptly take action to comply with the changes as they apply to all clients. Where rules and guidelines are unclear, the Custom Fit SEO staff will seek clarification and await approval from the appropriate search engine before continuing to utilize potentially harmful technology or procedures.

We will not intentionally mislead, harm, or offend a consumer. All individuals utilizing a search engine to visit a site will not be misled by the information presented to or by the search engine, or harmed or offended upon arrival at the client site. This includes techniques like "bait and switch" where the client page does not substantially contain and is not clearly associated with the optimized phrase, or may be reasonably offensive to targeted visitors.

We will not intentionally violate any laws. This involves the deliberate and continued violation of copyright, trademark, service mark, or laws related to spamming as they may exist at the state, federal, or international level.

We will not falsely represent the content of the client site. This includes the practice of presenting different versions of web pages to different users except where that information is altered solely to meet browser specifications and needs, sensitivity to regional factors such as language, or product specific needs. In general, ALL requests for a specific URL should be served identical HTML by the web server.

We will not falsely represent others work as their own. This includes the taking of work from others in whole or in part and representing this work as their own. Custom Fit web marketing staff may not make verbatim copies of the work of others (instead of authoring original work) without the prior consent of the other party.

We will not misrepresent their own abilities, education, training, standards of performance, certifications, trade group affiliations, technical inventory, or experiences to others. This includes quantifiable statements related to project timetables, performance history, company resources (staff, equipment, and proprietary products), and client lists. Guarantees will be restricted to items over which the Custom Fit search engine optimization staff have significant and reasonable control.

We will not participate in a conflict of interest without prior notice to all parties involved. This includes the practice of choosing to emphasize one client over another in competing keywords because there is more personal gain for the practitioner. All clients are treated equally and all will receive equal best effort in their optimization.

We will not set unreasonable client expectations. This includes the practice of accepting more than a reasonable number of clients competing for the same keywords and implying that all will be in the top positions in the search engines. This also includes the implication that results can be obtained in an unreasonable amount of time given the known condition of the search engines, client site, and competition.

We will offer their clients both internal and external dispute resolution procedures. This includes the publishing of address and phone numbers on primary web pages, the inclusion of third-party dispute resolution placed within contracts that include sections discussing dispute resolution.

We will protect the confidentiality and anonymity of their clients with regards to privileged information and items implying testimonial support for Custom Fit Internet Marketing work. All staff of Custom Fit SEO work shall be bound to protect information that is not generally known as it may harm the client. The Custom Fit SEO staff will not include the publishing of testimonials and proprietary logos of client lists, press releases, and other collateral discussing the client without explicit approvals.

We will work to their best ability to increase or retain the rankings of client sites. Clients are contracting for fee with the Custom Fit SEO in order to obtain and retain search engine placement. Custom Fit SEO is charged with an obligation to utilize appropriate and allowed technology and methodologies to improve and retain the rankings for their clients in the face of shifting search engine technology, competition, and client web site needs.

Custom Fit Online Solutions complies with and supports this Code of Ethics and follows industry best practices.

LEARN MORE:

Learn about the Search Engine Marketing Process we use
Visit our INTERNET MARKETING Portfolio
Read our Internet Marketing 101 series

We'll send you a FREE Estimate for Your Next Project. Fill out a Projects Estimate form and we will contact you within 48 hours. Roy McClean, Custom Fit - Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Services; Vancouver & Whistler BC.