John Sumser is Wrong

   

John, you’re kidding right?  You don’t really believe your analogy comparing job search with lawn mowing, do you? 

   

Your arguments don’t make sense to me:

   

-          Indexing information for search is not the same as purloining copyrighted material;

-          Vertical job boards do not act like gang members;

-          Attributing information from your site to you is not disrespectful;

-          A business model based on broader coverage of the market is not limited to firms unable to muster a real sales force;

-          Providing additional free advertising for your content is not vandalism.

   

Here’s an alternate analogy – your argument is similar to the response of a small business when Wal-Mart comes to town.  Is Wal-Mart good?  Millions of consumers think so.  Yet some small businesses can’t compete.

   

So John, we all need to compete in the market as defined by consumers, or prepare to be forced out – that’s the way free markets work. 

   

That said, manners are important.  So if Simply Hired has ignored requests to cease indexing your content, then by all means call them out.  But painting all vertical search sites with the same brush just doesn’t seem mannerly. 

   

Comments

[Nick Roy]

He probably didn't mean it, because controversy is good for driving traffic to your website. I've used controversial tactics such as bashing Bush or even posting a fake job posting that says "Seeking Rare Breed Knockout women for web designers." Controversial tactics such as these are great for an upsurge in traffic.

[Bob Wilson]

You may be right about John's motivation Nick, but I hope not. Seems to me there is a high price for the additional traffic that is generated by writing inflammatory fiction - credibility.

John lost credibility in my eyes with his 'job jacking' post.

Bob