There were promising signs this week that the affiliate sector vs.
888.com dispute over search engine optimization black hat activities
is about to enter a more constructive and consultative phase.
Some months into increasingly bitter differences (see earlier InfoPowa
reports) with the online gambling affiliate sector over its alleged
tolerance of "black hat" search engine optimization tactics
involving site scraping and blog spamming, 888.com executive Nicholas
Lev came forward last week. Pointing to the sound reputation his company
enjoyed, he condemned unethical practices and give an undertaking
that his company would investigate complaints and take action against
any affiliate found indulging in bad SEO practices.
The giant online casino group has been the target of repeated criticism
for allegedly turning a blind eye or profiting from the black hat
practices of some of its marketing affiliates. Allegations include
site scraping or content theft, inappropriate targeting and the irrelevant
spamming of blogs in attempts to push the search engine rankings of
888.com higher. Several prominent affiliate sites have roundly condemned
the activities as prejudicial to affiliates and unethical in nature,
and have disassociated themselves from 888.
There has also been widespread and continuous criticism of 888.com,
mainly by affiliates on a diversity of leading public message boards
around the Internet, and suggestions that affiliates take retaliatory
action by linking their sites and publicizing the issue. A serious
irritant for affiliates has been the hitherto public silence on the
issue by 888.com.
Led by Casino Affiliate Programs owner Lou Fabiano, moves were afoot
this week to establish useful dialogue with 888.com. Fabiano reported
that initial conversations with senior managers Nicolas Lev and Brian
Kohn were "....encouraging. 888 has indicated they are committed
to working with CAP on a resolution to the valid concerns raised over
the past several months by our affiliate members.
"Nicolas will be sending me a statement of action on the proposed
changes we discussed and I will post that at CAP and here at Casinomeister
upon receipt.
"The objective of these changes will be to eliminate the unethical
marketing practices that have taken place in the past by removing
the profit incentive for using them. These program changes coupled
with public dialogue and private meetings I have scheduled with company
representatives ....should lead to a positive resolution for 888,
their affiliate partners and the industry as a whole," Fabiano
said.
Turning to earlier comments that 888.com affiliates were being singled
out when black hat practices were being perpetrated by other companies
and their associates, Fabiano said: "The answer is no, we are
not only focusing on them, but we are addressing these [other] companies
as individuals. This makes the process manageable. We will hold each
group or entity responsible and accountable for their [individual]
actions.
"Rome wasn't built in a day, it was built one brick at a time.
888 is the first brick in the road to a more ethical marketing environment
for everyone."