![Page 1: SEO & Civil Law: Protecting Yourself from Unfortunate Client Disputes | brightonSEO](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022070516/58706d421a28ab48378b6c8f/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
SEO & Civil Law:Protecting Yourself from Unfortunate Client
Disputes
Steve Morgan
![Page 2: SEO & Civil Law: Protecting Yourself from Unfortunate Client Disputes | brightonSEO](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022070516/58706d421a28ab48378b6c8f/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
@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.)
![Page 4: SEO & Civil Law: Protecting Yourself from Unfortunate Client Disputes | brightonSEO](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022070516/58706d421a28ab48378b6c8f/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
@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
![Page 5: SEO & Civil Law: Protecting Yourself from Unfortunate Client Disputes | brightonSEO](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022070516/58706d421a28ab48378b6c8f/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
@steviephil #brightonSEO
All that matters…“It’s not what you know, it’s what you can prove.”
– Alonzo Harris(Denzel Washington), Training Day
![Page 6: SEO & Civil Law: Protecting Yourself from Unfortunate Client Disputes | brightonSEO](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022070516/58706d421a28ab48378b6c8f/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
@steviephil #brightonSEO
Protecting yourself pre-dispute1) Go with your gut
![Page 7: SEO & Civil Law: Protecting Yourself from Unfortunate Client Disputes | brightonSEO](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022070516/58706d421a28ab48378b6c8f/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
@steviephil #brightonSEO
Protecting yourself pre-dispute
2) Lay strong foundations
![Page 8: SEO & Civil Law: Protecting Yourself from Unfortunate Client Disputes | brightonSEO](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022070516/58706d421a28ab48378b6c8f/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
@steviephil #brightonSEO
Protecting yourself pre-dispute
3) Get a good contract
![Page 9: SEO & Civil Law: Protecting Yourself from Unfortunate Client Disputes | brightonSEO](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022070516/58706d421a28ab48378b6c8f/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
@steviephil #brightonSEO
Protecting yourself pre-dispute
4) Get everything in writing
![Page 10: SEO & Civil Law: Protecting Yourself from Unfortunate Client Disputes | brightonSEO](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022070516/58706d421a28ab48378b6c8f/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
@steviephil #brightonSEO
Protecting yourself pre-dispute
5) Screenshot everything you can
![Page 11: SEO & Civil Law: Protecting Yourself from Unfortunate Client Disputes | brightonSEO](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022070516/58706d421a28ab48378b6c8f/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
@steviephil #brightonSEO
If a dispute happens…1) Show your hand
![Page 12: SEO & Civil Law: Protecting Yourself from Unfortunate Client Disputes | brightonSEO](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022070516/58706d421a28ab48378b6c8f/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
@steviephil #brightonSEO
If a dispute happens…
2) Compile all the evidence
![Page 13: SEO & Civil Law: Protecting Yourself from Unfortunate Client Disputes | brightonSEO](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022070516/58706d421a28ab48378b6c8f/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
@steviephil #brightonSEO
If a dispute happens…
3) Compile all the witness statementshttp://www.johnantell.co.uk/how-to-write-a-witness-statement
![Page 14: SEO & Civil Law: Protecting Yourself from Unfortunate Client Disputes | brightonSEO](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022070516/58706d421a28ab48378b6c8f/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
@steviephil #brightonSEO
If a dispute happens…
4) Consider an unbiased expert
![Page 15: SEO & Civil Law: Protecting Yourself from Unfortunate Client Disputes | brightonSEO](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022070516/58706d421a28ab48378b6c8f/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
@steviephil #brightonSEO
If a dispute happens…
5) Consider legal help (even just a one-off)
![Page 16: SEO & Civil Law: Protecting Yourself from Unfortunate Client Disputes | brightonSEO](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022070516/58706d421a28ab48378b6c8f/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
@steviephil #brightonSEO
If a dispute happens…
6) Stay organised
![Page 17: SEO & Civil Law: Protecting Yourself from Unfortunate Client Disputes | brightonSEO](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022070516/58706d421a28ab48378b6c8f/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
@steviephil #brightonSEO
The showdown day in court…1) Prepare for cross-examination
![Page 18: SEO & Civil Law: Protecting Yourself from Unfortunate Client Disputes | brightonSEO](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022070516/58706d421a28ab48378b6c8f/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
@steviephil #brightonSEO
The showdown day in court…
2) Use analogies
![Page 19: SEO & Civil Law: Protecting Yourself from Unfortunate Client Disputes | brightonSEO](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022070516/58706d421a28ab48378b6c8f/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
@steviephil #brightonSEO
The showdown day in court…
3) Get help from the Personal Support Unit (PSU)thepsu.org
![Page 20: SEO & Civil Law: Protecting Yourself from Unfortunate Client Disputes | brightonSEO](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022070516/58706d421a28ab48378b6c8f/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
@steviephil #brightonSEO
Final considerations…
• Consider: the size of the debt
![Page 21: SEO & Civil Law: Protecting Yourself from Unfortunate Client Disputes | brightonSEO](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022070516/58706d421a28ab48378b6c8f/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
@steviephil #brightonSEO
Final considerations…
• Consider: the risk of not fighting it
![Page 22: SEO & Civil Law: Protecting Yourself from Unfortunate Client Disputes | brightonSEO](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022070516/58706d421a28ab48378b6c8f/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
@steviephil #brightonSEO
Thanks for listening
Freelancemorganonlinemarketing.co.uk
BlogSEOno.co.uk
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9