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Editor Note: This pro post is part of a two-part series about the proposed Search Marketing Code of Ethics, as presented by SEMPO at SearchCongress.org. To read the anti viewpoint from Kristine Schachinger and Alan Bleiweiss, click here. This post is not sponsored by any organization or party and was facilitated by the SEJ Editorial Team.

Its time for the search marketing industry to have a serious discussion about ethics. Make no mistake, this discussion will be messy. There will be disagreements. There will be hurt feelings. But in the end, if we as a unified group of industry bodies can decide on a unified code of ethics that is not only enforceable for those who choose to participate by pledging to adhere to the code, but also provides value to those who follow it, we will see our industry gain more credibility across the formal business marketing ecosystem.

In looking at the search marketing industry as a whole, its nearly impossible to define exactly what it is. From agencies to in-house search departments, content marketers, link builders, paid search marketers, tool producers, black-hat practitioners the list goes on and on. The term Search Engine Marketer refers to someone who may fit a diverse set of disciplines and job descriptions. In order to start the conversation, weve defined a search engine marketer as someone who self-identifies with the term. In other words, if you think you are search engine marketer, you are a search engine marketer. And its in your best interest to participate in this discussion.

We also realize that too many unfocused voices makes for nothing but noise. There MUST be some sort of structure that allows all who want to participate to feel that their voice is heard. This represents a challenge. We realize that many who need to be part of this conversation are currently not members of any local organization. They may live in places where there are no eligible regional organizations. In response to this, the organizers of the inaugural Search Congress are looking for several virtual organizations or boards that would allow for those who want to either run as a delegate or vote for a delegate that represents them will have the opportunity to do so.

Even with the best efforts to be inclusive, we realize not everyone who wants to participate in voting for delegates can. But the organizers of the Search Congress truly do want everyones voice to be heard, and we have set up a form on the searchcongress.org site to allow anyone to submit an idea for the code of ethics. Every relevant idea that is submitted will be presented to the delegates prior to the search congress. The delegates will know your idea, even if you cant vote for a delegate for some reason.

In October of 2014, the Search Engine Marketing Professionals Organization (SEMPO), sent out a press release calling for delegates to a Search Congress to draft a unified Code of Ethics. Delegates to the Search Congress will be elected from the many regional organizations that operate throughout North America some of which are affiliated with SEMPO,but otherswho are not. The idea is that this group of delegates will represent the industry in framing the inaugural code of ethics, but these delegates may also decide that there is currently no need for a unified code of ethics.

One important thing to understand in our point of view on this topic: SEMPO cannot and will not create a code of ethics by itself. SEMPOs mission is

to provide a foundation for industry growth through building stronger relationships, fostering awareness, providing education, promoting the industry, generating research, and creating a better understanding of search and its role in marketing.

Notice that there is no mention in this mission statement about creating a code of ethics, promoting best practices or enforcing standards. SEMPO simply isnt set up to create and enforce a code of ethics. But SEMPO does have the infrastructure and bandwidth to start the conversation. And thats all the organization is trying to do create a structured environment where a realistic Code of Ethics can be drafted. You can read more about the process, as well as keep informed of progress and participating groups at http://www.searchcongress.org.

The idea of a Code of Ethics is not new. Since SEMPOs inception in 2002, there has been talk about creating a Search Marketing Code of Ethics. In fact, one of the most common criticisms of SEMPO is that no code of ethics or best practices document has been created. In the past, the Board has struggled with the topic of setting industry standards, but the SEMPO leadership realized there would be a lack of full support for such standards, especially from those self-identified Search Engine Marketers who practice tactics that are against the rules, such as black hat SEO. A Code of Ethics is a wise step back from the potential future body of standards, and it will and it will provide something for the marketers that measure value in partner adherence to such beliefs and operating principles. Not all marketers will know or care about the Code of Ethics, but for those that do it will provide additional trust.

See the original post here:
A Serious Talk About The Unified Search Marketing Code of Ethics by @tonynwright

Editor note:This anti post is part of a two-part series about the proposed Search Marketing Code of Ethics, as presented by SEMPO at SearchCongress.org. To read the pro viewpoint from Tony Wright and Chris Boggs, click here. This post is not sponsored by any organization or party and was facilitated by the SEJ Editorial Team.Alan Bleiweiss also contributed to thispost. His comments are noted throughout.

As many of you may already know,SEMPO has proposed that we, as search marketers, meet at a Search Congress to discuss the draft and submission of a Code of Ethics. Upon first hearing of this, most of us would admit, Hey, this sounds like a great idea! I am sure the people who created the concept thought this.

We all know there is an issue with unethical practitioners, ones who call themselves SEOs, but in reality are simple con men whofound a business vertical that can bring them fast money with little effort. In the industry we call this practice Snake Oil SEO in polite company anyway. So why not a Code o f Ethics? Wouldnt that be a good thing? Wouldnt that help bring more legitimacy to our industry?

Unfortunately, sometimes what sounds good on paper does not work very well in the real world. As you begin to unravel the concept of what itwould mean to have a Code of Ethics, it starts to lose its appeal. Why? Lets break it down.

Inc. has a definition, which most should find agreeable:

A code of ethics issued by a business is a particular kind of policy statement. A properly framed code is, in effect, a form of legislation within the company binding on its employees, with specific sanctions for violation of the code. If such sanctions are absent, the code is just a list of pieties. The most severe sanction is usually dismissalunless a crime has been committed.

So a code of ethics defines how people will behave and then sanctions those who act outside the confines of the proposed behaviors. Seems simple enough.

After all, doctors needs rules that tell them they have to treat all people without doing harm. Lets say a doctor has to treat the man who broke up his marriage. Without a code of ethics to refer to, treating that man would be based on a personal morality, which in matters of life and death could become highly problematic. The same issues lie in real estate and law. These codes of ethics not only define behavior, but also can be the basis for legal action against anyone who does not adhere to the code of ethics. They are there to protect the consumer from practitioners of bad intent.

In these cases, the code of ethics primarily governs situations that are easy to delineate. Yes, you must treat that patient. Yes, you must represent that client. No, you cannot sell to a new bidder once under contract with the current one. Clearly defined edges are almost necessary for a proper COE. Ethics must have clearly defined edges where something becomes unethical.

How does this apply to Search Marketers?

See more here:
SEMPO Code of Ethics: Not So Black and White by @schachin

China on Wednesday started blocking the online storage service Dropbox.

Censorship watchdog group GreatFire.org reported the blocking on Thursday, stating that access had been cut to dropbox.com and to the company's apps.

China had previously tried blocking Dropbox as far back as 2010, GreatFire.org said in an email. But in early 2014, Dropbox updated its app to use the HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) communications protocol, helping it bypass the country's censorship.

China, however, has begun cutting access to Dropbox's HTTPS address, banning the company's services completely in what GreatFire.org said was the "strictest method of blocking."

Dropbox did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Dropbox site was inaccessible from Beijing, and the company's apps failed to synch data between devices.

China has been stepping up its censorship lately, targeting Google on May 31 with a block that's disrupted access to nearly all the company's services. The government has given no explanation for the move, but it took place just ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests that were brutally quashed on June 4, 1989.

The historical event is among the many censored topics in the country; before it was blocked, Google was one source of unfiltered search results about it.

Prior to the Google block, terrorists in China's western Xinjiang region also killed dozens in a bombing attack. The country's state-run media later reported that Chinese police had arrested several terrorist groups that had been using messaging apps and online videos to organize.

In the case of Dropbox, the service's blocking will probably affect few users. China's own Internet giants including Baidu are offering similar cloud storage services and Dropbox has yet to actively market its services to the country.

In recent weeks, Chinese Internet users have been complaining about the country's Google blocking, and have urged the government to end it. Government censors, however, are deleting social-networking posts about the topic, according to GreatFire.org. The group is cataloging the deleted posts on one of its sites.

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China cuts access to Dropbox

Nielsens South Asia Cross-Platform Report shows that the proliferation of smartphones and other mobile devices is driving the rise in Internet usage

MANILA, Philippines Not one, not two, but 3 screens that is how 8 of 10 Filipinos consume media content these days, according to a report released Monday, December 15, by Nielsen, a global information and insights company.

According to the Nielsen Cross-Platform Report, multi-screening is now a prevalent behavior among digital users, thus the shift in the consumption of media.

The proliferation of smartphones and other mobile devices is driving the rise in Internet usage and, subsequently, how people are now consuming media content not just through one screen but multiple screens, observed Stuart Jamieson, managing director of Nielsen Philippines.

Media owners and brands must continue to innovate to be able to capitalize on multi-screening behavior and deliver enhanced audience engagement with programs and advertising, Jamieson said.

The Nielsen South Asia Cross-Platform Report series, sponsored by Videology, covers the changing media landscape in some of the most dynamic markets in rising Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam and India.

The choice to control

Despite the Internets accessibility via mobile devices, newspaper readership (broadsheets, tabloids, and regional newspapers) remains stable over the past year and steady quarter-on-quarter. Around 14% of people in National Urban Philippines are yesterday readers, according to the Nielsens Consumer and Media View study.

Radio listening also shows an upsurge from 53% yesterday listeners to 62% in the past year. Yesterday TV viewership also slightly exhibits increase from 93% to 95% over the past year.

But about 7 in 10 digital consumers in the Philippines report watching TV content and movies via online sources such as video-on-demand the second highest penetration of Internet TV in the region after Thailand.

Link:
8 in 10 Filipinos consume media content through multiple screens

"This wouldn't even happen in China": George Yang. Photo: Andrew Meares

Chinese journalists covering the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 from Canberra are furious at what they see as Australian government control of the media.

On Sunday, two Chinese crews decided to chase Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss into a car park at the Australian Maritime Safety Authority after being denied access to an AMSA briefing attended by Australian media.

The crews held an impromptu interview with Mr Truss but have complained at being ''locked out'' of any chance to put questions to AMSA boss John Young. On Monday, AMSA posted a security guard at the front of its headquarters.

George Yang, the chief correspondent for Hong Kong's Phoenix Satellite Television, said he had been asked to prove his credentials while he prepared to do a cross from public land. ''This wouldn't even happen in China,'' Yang said.

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''It's been very frustrating, there seems to be a Chinese media blackout. It is unbelievable that this is happening in Australia. There are relatives in China who are devastated and looking for answers.''

In a statement, AMSA said the security guard had been posted ''to prevent media vehicles from blocking access to the building and to prevent unauthorised access.

''AMSA rejects any claims that we are treating members of the Chinese media any differently to others. Yesterday's media event was a pool arrangement organised in conjunction with the federal press gallery committee to allow access to the Rescue Coordination Centre whilst minimising disruption to the operations.

''Chinese media requested to join the pool but the request was declined by AMSA and they were advised to contact the press gallery committee to arrange access to the pool content, which was also made available on our website.''

See the article here:
'This wouldn't happen in China'