Filters, Facts and Fiction

One of my pet hates are SEO who present theories as facts. At SES this week one SEO announced to a room full of paying people that Google's new anti-Googlebomb filter tweak was nothing more than a cynical hoax. That is his opinion. My opinion is that he is wrong.

Let's try this list.

• The Sandbox
• Strong theory - Google alluded to this
• The -30 Filter
• Theory
• Googlebombing Filter
• Fact - Unless Google are liars
• Google Bowling
• Theory
• Duplicate Content Filter
• Fact
• Supplemental Results Filter
• Fact
• Domain Name Age Filter
• Theory
• Omitted Results Filter
• Fact
• TrustRank Filter
• Theory
• Links Page Filter
• Theory
• Reciprocal Links Filter
• Theory
• Co-citation Linking Filter
• Strong theory - alluded to by Google
• Too Many Links Filter
• Theory
• Too Many Pages At Once Filter
• Theory
• Broken Link Filter
• Theory
• Page Load Time Filter
• Theory
• Over Optimisation Filter
• Theory
• Keyword Stuffing Filter
• Theory
• Meta Stuffing Filter
• Theory
• Automated Google Query Filter
• Theory
• IP Class Filter
• Theory
• Google Toolbar Filter
• Theory
• Click Through in SERPS Filter
• Theory
• Traffic Filter
• Theory
• Google -950 Filter
• Theory

Do you know what? I think it gets worse. Over 75% of these "filters" are just a theory. 75%! Do you think I'm going to be the same amount of trouble as Jason Calacanis got himself into when he suggested that 90% of SEO was pushed by snake oils sales people.

Hat tip to Joe Whyte's list of filters. Frankly, it's hard to keep up with what the SEO forums are raving about on any given day.