To destroy...or not to destroy

statelizard

statelizard

Silver Tongued
Jul 18, 2010
218
7
0
The Mitten
So here's the deal.

I live in a relatively small metro area. The bulk of my business is working with local businesses (mainly smaller) on both offline and online marketing. A lot of copy and content creation. I do a bit of specialized seo stuff (mainly guest posting on authority sites) for some of my clients. I do pretty well.

I've got a friend who recently moved back into the area. He's an "seo specialist". He informed me (without really knowing what it is that I do) that he's planning on opening up shop and trying to tap into the local market. So I looked into what he's done previously. Basically his seo consists of fucking link spamming. Generally, i don't give a shit. I don't really view him as competition, but I also know that based on the size of the metro he'll likely be contacting some of my clients. I've put in a fuck ton of time to try and algo-change proof my clients online presence. I'm a bit worried that if they take him on as a provider it's going to fuck up a lot of what I've worked to do, thus diminishing the overall value of my client's online presence and getting me caught in his shitstorm.

So the question is: Do I get together with him and work out an agreement for territory or do I just fucking take his business out. I'm not really interested in partnering with him unless he's going to change his practices because I've sold the little bit of seo shit i do based on quality and targeted link partners and stayed the fuck away from his type of spammy shit.

It's not like he's a close friend, but he is a friend nonetheless. When I've faced similar situations in the past (albeit, not with friends) I've basically preemptively entered the markets my competitors are focused on, outperformed them and then stolen their clients.

So do i take him out at the knees and say fuck the friendship; or do I try to come to some kind of arrangement with him?
 


If he's really your friend and you guys have taken different approaches just collude already. Keep your companies separate but ensure that if it isn't you getting the biz, it is him, and vice versa. Coke wouldn't be coke without pepsi.
 
Taking his business out is definitely what's going to happen one way or another (or at least that's the intent, which shouldn't be too difficult).

I guess I'm just not sure if I want to offer to bring him into the fold as a partner (and alter his methods) which could ultimately help me expand my coverage area, or if i just want to lead the lamb to slaughter.

If he wants to come on board that could work out well for both of us, if he's against it, I've tipped my hand. So I'll probably try to bury him and once he's effectively out of business in the area try and bring him on as an employee or minority partner. He has assets that would be beneficial to my business, it's just that (imo) his methods of developing those assets aren't sustainable for long-term growth and long-term results are what my clients both need and want.
 
statelizard said:
Taking his business out is definitely what's going to happen one way or another (or at least that's the intent, which shouldn't be too difficult).

I guess I'm just not sure if I want to offer to bring him into the fold as a partner (and alter his methods) which could ultimately help me expand my coverage area, or if i just want to lead the lamb to slaughter.

If he wants to come on board that could work out well for both of us, if he's against it, I've tipped my hand. So I'll probably try to bury him and once he's effectively out of business in the area try and bring him on as an employee or minority partner. He has assets that would be beneficial to my business, it's just that (imo) his methods of developing those assets aren't sustainable for long-term growth and long-term results are what my clients both need and want.
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Sounds like you've convinced yourself of your chosen course of action.

If his methods are as shitty as you say, you may want to keep him on a very short leash, though.
 
If you'll do something because he's a friend there's a lot higher probability it's a bad business decision than if you do it because he could be a long term asset to your business. And since you know his business is low grade spamming you have the answer on your hand.
 
If you have quality you don't have to worry about it. Unless your clients are dumb as fuck. Also you don't put friends and business together.
 
Are your current clients paying a one time fee for your services or is it a recurring basis? If it's a one time fee, let him take the clients, monitor the rankings, when they drop off, call them up and hit them up for double for the damage caused and then hit them with a recurring service to make sure it never happens again.
 
CLKeenan said:
Are your current clients paying a one time fee for your services or is it a recurring basis? If it's a one time fee, let him take the clients, monitor the rankings, when they drop off, call them up and hit them up for double for the damage caused and then hit them with a recurring service to make sure it never happens again.
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LOL fucking capitalist thinking. Beach Affiliate approves!
 
You have to keep your distance otherwise you will have to educate him somewhat and that would be dumb as fuck to do.
 
This thread is stupid. It's not a zero sum game, and you're an idiot if you think it is. So partner up with him, and hope he is the smart half of the company.
 
Exactly; Collusion makes way more in the longrun if your time horizon isn't limited to like 2 weeks.
 
Personally, what I'd do, is a mix of both. (Although if he was more of an acquaintance than a friend, I'd just go the full blown destroy route.)

Tell him it's cool if he wants to set up shop, however he should understand that business is business, and personal is personal. Tell him that you will try and steal his clients, and he's welcome to try and steal yours, and that anything goes. However, at the end of the day, you're still happy to have a beer with him.

If he sounds negative about that, then I'd tell him it might make more sense for him to operate in another area.

I'm sure some people will disagree.
 
What's the likelihood that he'll figure out that you're his competition one day if you don't tell him?

If you feel he can't, then you're in the PERFECT position right now to steal his shit and he'll just keep meeting you at the bar to tell you all of his plans. ;)

You clearly have the upper hand right now. Don't give it away on the chance that you can salvage a relationship with a WaFo dumbass who's not even one of your closer friends.
 
So what you are saying is that you are worried that this guy will get your clients to agree to tactics that will hurt their rankings and thus give you a chance to charge your clients more to undo his work?

And instead of thinking of colluding with him you are thinking of taking him out?

Seriously dude?
 
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