SEO & Civil Law: Protecting Yourself from Unfortunate Client Disputes Steve Morgan
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
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
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