Business Blogging -- Should it Be A Protected Free Speech Right?
Business Blogging -- Should it Be A Protected Free Speech Right?
Leading SEO Expert Aaron Matthew Wall Author of SEO Book Sued
over Blogging Free Speech Issue.
Blogging has come a long way as it relates to becoming a part of
mainstream media. Blogging has more recently been credited with
breaking major news stories and influencing major political
campaigns.
One of my favorite sources to read on current SEO developments
is leading search engine marketer Aaron Matthew Wall. He has
recently been commenting on a law suit from a company called
Traffic Power.
Quite frankly I don't know all the issues involved, but I know
young Mr. Wall (only 25) to be a straight shooter on what works
and doesn't work in SEO work. People like Aaron are becoming
personal brands online because of blogging.
This legal action is some what setting a standard on legal
rights and actions brought against bloggers. The right of a
blogger to express their opinions about businesses has caught
the attention of the Wall Street Journal (obviously not owned by
Aaron Wall).
I am a reader of SEO Book and have emailed Aaron Wall on
occasion. I even have a review of his book on my site.
>From Aaron's blog I knew this was brewing for some time. Aaron
will praise useful services and also tell others when something
is a scam.
As a blogger it is hard to tell where to draw the line. There
are so many rip-off traffic companies out there you feel
obligated to tell your subscribers.
I don't know all the issues in the Traffic Power law suit,
however I think a person should be able to express their opinion
about their business experiences and outlook online.
I see sites advertising and have even experienced some services
telling you they will run your ad and get you millions of
impressions. Then you discover their Alexa ranking is 3,500,000
and they are putting your ad in rotation with 16 other
advertisers.
It would take them forever -- and they still couldn't get you a
million impressions! They are just rip-offs and when you let
others know to avoid these traffic fraud type companies they get
mad and want to sue.
I am doing a lot of testing of different ways to drive lots of
targeted traffic to my sites, but 60% of the companies I try are
total rip-offs. Many of them I suspect generate traffic bots and
not actual people. When we blog our readers expect us to have a
personality and give them the inside scoop and our opinion on
things. Legal action like this will really make our jobs more
challenging to say the least.
Not only are companies trying to sue bloggers for their
commentary, but they are also attempting to sue bloggers for
feed back left by others on their blog. What is unbelievable
about this law suit is Mr. Wall is not only being sued just for
his remarks, but also for remarks left by others on his blog!
I think Aaron is courageous in taking a stand for the ability to
express his opinion, and the right of his blog users to also
state theirs. He is helping to keep the Internet a media of free
speech.
I wish Aaron Wall well in his decision to not take his personal
or critical commentary down on Traffic Power. He shouldn't have
to feel afraid to state his opinion on web marketing matters,
even when some companies don't approve of their reviews. These
companies would do better improving their product and put less
time into suing and other forms of intimidation.