Wikipedians backlash against Search Engine Land article
Wikipedians don't like editors who are disingenuous. Playing games within Wikipedia in the hopes of not getting caught is just asking for trouble. I was reminded of this fact while reading the Search Engine Land article What To Do When Your Company Wikipedia Page Goes Bad. On the surface, Jessica, SEO at Business.com, offers some no-nonsense advice on removing or minimizing negative material on Wikipedia. But be advised that you are entering into dangerous territory if you employ Jessica's tips. Read the comments and you'll find some very negative reactions from respected Wikipedians JEHochman and Durova about the proposed tactics. I would heed their words of caution if I were you.
The comment from Seth Finkelstein sums it up nicely: "The Ranger won't like that, Yogi."
Read my Search Engine Land article The Art of SEO for Wikipedia and you'll get some tips that aren't out-of-bounds. Remember, if you are sneaky, you will leave tracks, and when you're caught by the wikisleuths, you won't get the benefit of the Wikipedia 'assume good faith' provision.
Stephan Spencer is the founder and president of Netconcepts, a Web agency specializing in e-commerce optimized for search engines. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure.
