Lately I’ve been interviewing some local SEO’s for a search engine optimization position - basically I give the candidate a common scenario and have them make suggestions to improve the fictitious client’s ranking in the SERP’s (I just focus on Google, but you know what I mean).

Noticably absent from any of the potential hires list of seo priorities was the practice of renting links. I asked each one of them (5 guys, 1 girl so far) why they didn’t suggest any of the clients rent links and they each gave me their version of why renting links is unethical.

Is this how most people feel or is there a selection bias because I live in an area where SEO is not an everyday word? Or is it possible that I just happened to meet the 6 self-professed SEO’s who don’t practice link renting? I’m not sure but one thing is clear - I’m glad most people don’t do it - it makes it a lot cheaper for those of us who do