When SEMs do search engine optimization for major major sites, they should investigate their strategies carefully and make sure it's all kosher-looking. I know most people don't know how to investigate a site's backlinks, and I know that even Google struggles to pick out garbage links, while MSN and Yahoo appear to feast on garbage. However, not only are these sites putting their rankings in jeopardy by having all these sketchy links pointed at them, but they destroy their image for people who actually do investigate (like me).

I suggest that Google add a link for "who links to this URL" driven by their link: command (however inadequate it is) in light of all this spamming garbage. I know it's a veiled admission that their filters are far from perfect, but it's a useful thing to look at nonetheless. Not that this site has many high quality links; I have lots of crap pointing to this site. But this is a personal blog, not a major site!

My favorite is "http://www.ryar.org," a law firm that apparently bought a domain that used to be some sort of childrens' organization, and now has links from, among other things, an adult diaper site :) Lovely.

You won't find any of this stuff on sites I design. My God guys, at least point some sketchy links at a blog on blogspot.com, and only then point those to the credible domains; that's what I'd do.