• Sphinn, Wednesday, April 2, 2008 2:31 PM

The launch of SEMCompare, Search Marketing Standard's new search firm ratings and reviews Web site, has sparked a major debate within the search community. Kalena Jordan ignited the discussion with her initial analysis of the site, and the dialogue continues on Sphinn.

Many Sphinn members echo Jordan's concerns about the site's accuracy and legality, given the fact that users could leave anonymous reviews. "So I can hire a gang of offshore monkeys to go by (spoofed IPs) and whack attack all the competition?" wrote one reader. Others questioned whether the system would need an automatic response mechanism, so that firms that had received negative reviews could address the reviewer's comment directly.

The SEMCompare team joined the discussion, acknowledging that the less-than- two-week-old site was a work in progress, and that constructive feedback was key to helping it succeed. For example, after seeing the concerns about reviewer anonymity, the team agreed to make future users verify their email address and Web site before being allowed to post a review.

Still, many in the community have seemingly rejected the idea outright--an attitude that seems hypocritical, according to one Sphinner. "C'mon people, we've all been saying for how long now, that 'it's all about the conversation.'"she wrote. "But now that the conversation turns our way, we all want to run from it and declare foul? You can't have it both ways. Don't run from the conversation. Allow it to happen and participate in it."

Read the whole story at Sphinn »