Lol. I see your point about the black hat techniques but I don’t necessarily view it the same way if that makes any sense. I believe we can learn from them but they are more a manipulation of an artform than the understanding of it. But then again I guess it takes some level of understanding to pull off such techniques. All in all I think it might be viewed as a bit lazy.

Obviously, the black hat techniques are frowned upon, but it does make you pause to contemplate using them. There’s a natural balance between the “rule makers” and the people trying to break or skirt around them, and in the end the use of black hat techniques will only strengthen the relevancy of searches as the cheats are found and eliminated over time. But is there a certain mix of legitimate and illegitimate techniques we should be using, if it will indeed serve our clients better?

The analogy which springs to mind for me is baseball. I hate the issue of steroids in the sport, and have a difficult time in thinking of steroid users as anything but cheaters. But you also have to consider the perspective of the players: here you are, working your ass off every day on the field, and yet your still being paid less and getting less fame than those who take the steroid route. It makes you wonder – when in Rome?

When I read that I don’t think it’s a good comparison. Maybe a better one (and a far nerdier and cooler one) would be to consider the acceptable SEO practices as the ways of the Jedi, while the black hat techniques are the way of the Sith. Sure, the good SEO practices are noble and true and will bring you honor and success, but it’s the black hat techniques which are all sexy and mysterious and lightning-bolt-out-of-your-fingers cool. Yea, that’s what I mean.

I just noticed that your movie clip for the ripple effect is off between Creamy and Organic Chocolate. When that drop hits there’s a delay till the ripple starts.

Great job, looking forward to your next ad.