The dark side of SEO. The in house idiots.

I've always quite liked the fact that SEO is often seen as quite a complex and devious industry to work in, where shady characters exchange code and links to get their clients site to the top of the rankings all in exchange for briefcases filled with cash. Although most SEO's will agree this is far from the truth, even some IT professionals seem to think it is a "dark art", at least those in IT HR. This leads me onto the point of this article... I was sent some supposedly "in depth" and "cutting edge" keyword analysis from some in house SEOs that work in a huge financial organisation. The report they sent me was perhaps the most childish example of "research" I've ever seen. Without giving away too much, the report detailed the following: Credit card, credit card, Creditcards, CReditcards and so on with capitalisation variations and plural forms. I was given no other info. A room filled with monkeys and typewriters would have produced better quality research.

I have spoken to the pair responsible for this material and can confirm that they are as sharp as each other (very blunt). Although I won't name any names, it shocks me that people like this can get a job in SEO... Do they use their "dark" powers like Luke Skywalker uses the Jedi mind trick? How else could you fool HR into recruiting these SEO wannabes?