Why isn't SEOmoz a BBB accredited Business?

[CobraJones95]

I'm just curious.

I help run an online resource-based business. Recent'y, I've done a fair amount of research about becoming a BBB accredited business and it all seems to point to it being worth the money. No only for the link, but also for the potential increase in conversion due to the trust that comes along with their brand. It just seems to make good business sense.

But I noticed that SEOmoz isn't accredited, and it made me wonder if there was something I wasn't considering? I mean, why wouldn't they want a valuable link like that?

Does anyone know anything I don't?

[DanielFreedman]

• • I am not a BBB fan. Here are some excerpts from an earlier thread, beginning with a post from me

    • There is a decidedly less sunny view of the Better Business Bureau. It has been the subject of many journalistic exposes. Critics say it supresses consumer complaints for cash, acts as a shill for its paying members, and operates a pay for play scheme. The basic accusation is that it is a bad guy posing as a good guy. Wolfgang Puck and the Boston Ritz Carlton Hotel got failing grades. So did Disney World -- until it became a paying member.

    • The Connecticut Attorney General opened an investgation at one point.

      See the ABC News 20/20 expose

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yo8kfV9kONw

      After a highly unflattering series of columns in the New York Times, The BBB tried to defend itself here

      http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/10/your-money/10haggler.html

      The BBB may have high domain authority. But whether it is wise for businesses to be associated with such an organization is quite another matter.

      i agree with a previous poster: local Chamber of Commerce directories are the way to go

    • • **Aaron Schinke **| July 5th, 2011

        I have heard some of these horror stories as well. However I don't think the vast majority of people have. So, even if the BBB just passes the perception of trust along with the link juice it's probably worht it. Perception is reality.

        <a rel="nofollow">###### 2</a> <a rel="nofollow">###### 0</a> ReplyPermalink

      • <a name="137344f8f9416707_jtc147147"> </a>**BathroomGetaways **| July 11th, 2011

        I think part of the reason they get a bad rep is because just because you're not a member, doesn't mean you won't get turned in.  For instance, we had a hosting client that turned us in because we HAD to raise her hosting rates and she didn't feel she should have to pay (not very bright person was she).  So she complained to the BBB, despite the fact we're not a member.  We got a letter, we let them know how we resolved the issue, and they considered the matter CLOSED, and said we did everything we could do satisfy her.

        So my guess with many of the companies that have had the "pay for play" complaint, isn't that they were necessarily being strong-armed into paying to join, but that before they joined, they weren't resolving complaints because they probably didn't fully realize they had to.

        I agree the BBB walks the gray line, but lets not forget that 20/20 and other news outlets love to latch on to stories like that about big company or org messing with the little guy, and they are probably worse from a "bad standpoint" (20/20 and news outlets that is) than the BBB could ever dream of being.

        The media are whore's that will air anything they can.  The BBB, while not awesome, does provide a valuable service to both businesses and consumers.  What's the news media really do other than stir the pot for ratings?

        <a rel="nofollow"></a>

    • But of course I'd be willing to reconsider my previous post.

      Perhaps the BBB would care to avail itself of my complaints resolution services?

      My fees are very reasonable.

      And everybody wins!

      This is a joke. I'm not serious.

      But the BBB is. Which is a problem.

      • <a name="137344f8f9416707_jtc146406"> </a>**Djjinx13 **| July 1st, 2011

        Hmmm

        I think the point of the post was in direct referece to the search engine marketing implications of BBB which is not only a powerful backlink, but as another poster pointed out it appears its "brand" gets a Google human "trust" bump which is understandable as Google always states they are about the user not the fringe opinons (not blasting your opinion.) Just stating that in consumers eyes the BBB is trustworthy ( i understand that is you point that it should not be) but once again the point I believe is the SEM benefits. Now in the future if consumers begin to gain your views that "trust" metric will begin to fall... But that is not today!!! and Today it appears in local search asepect a BBB link is good in consumers eyes and search enigne eyes so i see no reason if ROI justifies it one would not get it.

        once again just my opinion

        Edited by Djjinx13 on July 1st, 2011 at 6:16 am<a rel="nofollow"></a>

[bestpf]

I did not see any change to the sales conversion rate after adding BBB. However I had other trust (authority) graphics on the site.

D&B also told me the same thing - many companies requesting our company report (which was pot possible at that time). I have always questioned the validity of the data in D&B because a lot of it is self-reported (no audit or verification process). I also have experience purchasing the D&B credit builder service (which can be manipulated to help build one's credit score).

Listing of your site in D&B may be an extremely small factor in Google's algorithm but I don't think it is worth the expense. I would prefer to spend the money on the Yahoo Directory and Best of The Web directory.

On your site you need some type of major authority "seal" to gain the confidence of site visitors. D&B would be a very low priority one. TrustE, McAfee Secure are perhaps the top ones.

Last advice about D&B - make certain supplier invoices are paid perfectly on time and your credit score should increase over time. Your D&B credit score is critical in being able to obtain open account terms from suppliers.

[EGOL]

Loren,

Thank you for this generous sharing of your experience.

I have been contacted by BBB but did not pay for membership.

Did you notice any lift in sales after posting the BBB badge on your website?

Do you have a similar story about D&B listings?

D&B has contacted me several times telling me that people are requesting my report.  I asked them to tell me who is requesting and then I will consider providing my information.  I also told them that they should be paying me since my information is a revenue-producing product for them.    They don't "get" that logic.  

Thanks!

[bestpf]

I have been operating an online furniture e-commerce site for over 8 years. Once I became a member of BBB and my experience and opinions are as follows.

1. As soon as paid the fee to become a BBB member the rating of my company substantially increased. The dialogue that I had with the aggressive telemarketer sales rep made me feel that this was their strong arm tactic - pay and we improve your rating.

2. BBB is very aggressive in persuading a prospect to join. I think the sales reps receive a large portion of their income based on sales commissions.

3. The majority of consumers perceive BBB as being some type of government related organization. This means that consumers trust and believe that BBB is a legitimate entity. Because of this perception the BBB online seal helps gain credibility when displayed on websites.

4. Perhaps the listing in BBB is a very minor favorable SEO benefit.

I've talked to other company owners who had a similar experience as mine. They agree with my conclusion as follows.

The BBB comes across as a "scam" type organization. Buying into their system is a necessary evil because so many online shoppers erroneously believe that BBB is like a government entity and operates ethically.

I'm doing my best to not pay the membership fees and make a statement that supports my negative feelings towards how BBB operates. Many of my peers are also avoiding BBB.