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Comment by clay_the_ripper | Hacker News Reader

My main takeaway from this is providing people with value results in value being returned. There is no SEO “hack” that results in long term success. He’s honestly providing information that people find useful, and in return he is receiving value. This is a great example of authentic, honest marketing. Good job!

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Except the problem is he basically asked them to give him more money in exchange for guaranteed long term mention in the article.

To me that's a bit shitty because you're no longer recommending them based on what they offer but more so based on how much money you receive from them.

Exactly. He went from helping readers to helping himself. And now that I know his opinions are for sale, he's lowered my trust level for everything he writes in the future. I'm sure the same is true for any editor who he approaches about a new piece.

Hmm. I guess that’s true. I think it’s safe to assume however, that this article is relevant and useful for x months, and I see no issue with him getting paid as long as the article is relevant. If the services mentioned significantly decreased in usefulness or increased in cost etc. then it would be on the author to appropriately update the article. If new services were added in place of old ones, it stands to reason he could get the same arrangements with those companies. I guess it all comes down to trust and whether this guy seems honest or not. Seems to me that he is

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