The universe is such a wonder.

No, this is not political but yet the timing is quite remarkable. I’m talking about integrity in marketing. Yes, it does exist and you can spot the brands pretty easily that have integrity built in. They are the brands that are all about YOU and providing the service that YOU want or need. It’s a very simple formula. I guide my clients through it every day.

I’ve written about Integrity in marketing. I call them the “Billy Bad Asses” (Billy BA’s). The fast-talking, “I’ll double your $$$ in 90 days”, “I can do it for anyone”, easy money kind of salesmen.  Yes, it is possible to have incredible gains in a very short time span. I’ve had my own success stories, Big Water Ci. Case Studies, but these are singular events that came about from knowing my sh@% and knowing what, when, and how to implement good marketing practices. Define the problem, solve the problem, and you win. For instance I use geo targeting every day and a quick glance at my code will cause neither me nor my clients embarrassment. It is a useful tool when used properly.

In marketing, it is so tempting to go off-brand and grab the reins of any passing trend or tactic. It’s just like a wild horse, a fun ride, and you never know where you’ll end up. Possibly a ditch, trends are like water, they rarely run uphill, and they eventually end. If you take the time and energy to give the horse a good home a healthy horse can run like the wind to wherever you wish and get you back to the barn, time and time again.

This past Monday was a great example of someone grabbing the reins of something they shouldn’t. I do my due diligence from time to time and I was Googling “Big Water Ci.”. To my surprise an oddly named,  Relentless Business Mastery, (A local Billy BA’s marketing firm) came up too close to the top of my search. I clicked on it and found no visible link or reference to BWCI on the page. Me the forever optimist was looking for a tag or reference to see If they had liked a blog or ad and linked it, that is an acceptable practice. This was a competitor and one of those SEO-named firms that make no sense but are created only to rate higher on Google. Kinda like the old-fashioned “AAA Your business” name to get the first placement in the Yellow Pages. That was before the internet as we know it existed and is now an outdated practice since the ’80’s. The kinda of name that screams “I’ll take your money fool”.

My curiosity was spiked and so I dove in. All websites have the option to view the code of the actual website. Guess what I found! Big Water Ci. In the code. Name, address, and phone as well. All under a Meta Geo Tag.

The first thing I did was call the firm. It went directly to voicemail.  I left a message on what I had found. Giving the guy the option to correct his mistake.

The next morning the code was gone. I did not receive any communication from the firm. No apology, crickets. Plus if it was a mistake I did not give enough info to easily find it.

Next step. I asked AI what the code meant.

<META NAME = geo-placename" CONTENT= "Big Water Ci., 10276 jeffery pine rd. ste. A4, Truckee, CA 96161, USA"> what is this doing on a competitors website code

AI Response

The tag on a competitor's website is an example of a Geo-Meta tag that is used to provide geographical information about where the content of the website is relevant or located. This specific tag indicates a physical address, which in this case, interestingly, is associated with your business, Big Water Content Innovation.

Here’s what this tag generally achieves and why it might be on a competitor's website:

• Local SEO Enhancement: This type of meta tag is often used to enhance local search engine optimization (SEO). By specifying a geographical location, it helps search engines understand where the content or business is relevant, potentially improving the site’s visibility in local search results.
• Targeting Local Audiences: It might be part of a strategy to target audiences in a specific geographical area, making the site more relevant to users searching for services or businesses in that location.
• Misplacement or Error: If the address listed in the tag is indeed your business’s address, its presence on a competitor's website could be a mistake or oversight. It’s also possible it could be an unethical attempt to confuse search engines or users about their location relative to yours, although this is less likely due to the potential penalties for misleading SEO practices.

Well, it’s pretty easy to conclude that #3 was the intent of the tag " an unethical attempt to confuse search engines”. I’m on the fence about whether to involve Google or not. I guess his business would be finished. Or he could just move to TikTok Shop for his clientele. I wonder if his clients understand the consequences.

If you’ve been keeping up with my blogs you already know the disarray Google is in right now, so this kind of tactic really stinks and is ineffective as well.  Not to mention, now he has to deal with the fallout that I get to write another article on Marketing Integrity.

Your takeaway when choosing a marketing agency?

Take a good look at who is being sold. (I will shamelessly plug BWCI now.)

Our passion is not fueled by how many clients we sell to.

Our passion thrives on how much we sell FOR our clients.

Trina Gold - BWCI

In marketing, there is no need for tricky sticky tactics. Marketing is quite simple. Connect people to your business that need your services. Your brand will rise to the surface if you stay in your own lane and do what you do, well.

My job is to let people know you ROCK.

Bonus tip! Remember to Google your business regularly.

If there is a topic you’d like to hear more about by all means comment below or direct message and I’ll do my best.

Nothing better than a good question to jump into.

Reach out for a talk over coffee or a hike I give information freely. I only ask to be paid when I do the work. tgold@bigwaterci.com

Comment below or share.

Trina Gold

Master Creator

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