How to run SEO tests you don't want to be associated with

[lethal0r]

A client has a competitor who is ranking above them for a highly competitive term they shouldn't really be able to rank for.

I think I know how the site got there, and I think I can replicate it myself with a quick test, but it's definitely grey hat if not black hat to do so.

I do not want my own sites and company to be damamged by the test, but i'd like to let the client know for sure, and also i'd love to know myself.

The test should take about a week to run, there is no hacking involved or password stealing or anything damaging to another.

How would you do such a test? I'm dubious about using my own server / site for it, but would a week really matter?

Tom

[lethal0r]

thats very helpful, I forgot about the hidden whois thingy!

[AlanMosley]

Would need to know more about the test. Many point to sites that have a load of cheap links and say that they should not be ranking so well with such cheap links, but in many cases these sites have a few really good links amung them that earns them their place.

I would not be so quick to suggest they do not deserve their place

[deltasystems]

The first might not be ethical. You could try your tactics on a website you are associated with, and already is an established domain. As a personal example, I created a Magento extension to handle administrating category attributes. For my own case study I wanted to try out, I pointed links at the Magento Connect store that hosts the plugin page instead of a blog post or store page I developed. Some probably have ethical problems with this. One downside is you don't have access to Analytics, but tracking keywords shouldn't be tough.

The next is to grab up domains and start testing away. This is how I got started back in SEO around 6 years ago. Grab whoisguard to protect others from seeing domain registration information if you are worried. Personally, I wouldn't be. After all, who really cares that you are testing SEO out on a domain that no one cares about? (Although, I will say, your guinea pig websites often graduate testing status and become worthwhile websites without you intending)

Hope that helps. Maybe others have more ideas.