seo & civil law: protecting yourself from unfortunate client disputes | brightonseo

SEO & Civil Law:Protecting Yourself from Unfortunate Client

Disputes

Steve Morgan

@steviephil #brightonSEO

Disclaimers• I am an SEO professional, not a legal professional• Not legal advice: just my own experiences – if you take it on-board then I am not responsible for whatever happens• Applicable to England & Wales civil law (i.e. may be different for Scotland, NI, Ireland, Europe, etc.)

@steviephil #brightonSEO

Introduction bit.ly/1kHQCPA

@steviephil #brightonSEO

The story

2009-2013

2014

2015

My contract

Bad work (from previous SEO)

The dispute…

Start

Disavow Redesign End

ResultCourtStart Resubmitted

Notice

Set aside

@steviephil #brightonSEO

All that matters…“It’s not what you know, it’s what you can prove.”

– Alonzo Harris(Denzel Washington), Training Day

@steviephil #brightonSEO

Protecting yourself pre-dispute1) Go with your gut

@steviephil #brightonSEO

Protecting yourself pre-dispute

2) Lay strong foundations

@steviephil #brightonSEO

Protecting yourself pre-dispute

3) Get a good contract

@steviephil #brightonSEO

Protecting yourself pre-dispute

4) Get everything in writing

@steviephil #brightonSEO

Protecting yourself pre-dispute

5) Screenshot everything you can

@steviephil #brightonSEO

If a dispute happens…1) Show your hand

@steviephil #brightonSEO

If a dispute happens…

2) Compile all the evidence

@steviephil #brightonSEO

If a dispute happens…

3) Compile all the witness statementshttp://www.johnantell.co.uk/how-to-write-a-witness-statement

@steviephil #brightonSEO

If a dispute happens…

4) Consider an unbiased expert

@steviephil #brightonSEO

If a dispute happens…

5) Consider legal help (even just a one-off)

@steviephil #brightonSEO

If a dispute happens…

6) Stay organised

@steviephil #brightonSEO

The showdown day in court…1) Prepare for cross-examination

@steviephil #brightonSEO

The showdown day in court…

2) Use analogies

@steviephil #brightonSEO

The showdown day in court…

3) Get help from the Personal Support Unit (PSU)thepsu.org

@steviephil #brightonSEO

Final considerations…

• Consider: the size of the debt

@steviephil #brightonSEO

Final considerations…

• Consider: the risk of not fighting it

@steviephil #brightonSEO

Thanks for listening

Freelancemorganonlinemarketing.co.uk

BlogSEOno.co.uk

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9