I received some fax-spam the other day (you know... it's just like any other unwanted garbage that you receive expect for it comes to you via fax) and thought to give it a quick read before throwing it away.

Apparently for $330.00, the "Official Internet Registry & Optimization Bureau", "License #7234Z45" will provide me with an "annual Website Marketing & Monitoring Bundle" which just so happens to help increase my search engine exposure.

To think that I am being solicited by an apparent "SEO company" (and I use this term in quotes, cautiously, and very loosely) to provide me, a Search Engine Marketing Consultant, with SEO services is absolutely hilarious. I guess it's not as off-based and humorous as when a woman receives a "Penis Enlargement" email or when a guy receives a "breast enhancement" email, but it ranks right up there.

What I really don't understand is that the people over-there at www. Internetoptimizationbureau .com took the time to create this personalized fax by adding my name everywhere and by partially filling out the payment coupon with my information, but they didn't bother take an extra second or two to actually review my website to see what it's even about? But... what can you expect... its spam, and like all spam it's just annoying and a waste of time.

An excerpt from this fax states:

"Your payment is due for your annual Website Marketing & Monitoring Bundle. When your payment is received we will send your updated website analysis report and keyword suggestions to increase the search engine results for your website. Don't miss out on improving search engine results from the major search engines: Google, Yahoo, MSN, Ask, Lycos, AOL and more."

So, let me see if I understand this correctly. For $330 you're going to send me an "updated website analysis report"... which does what exactly?... and a list of your personal recommend keywords geared towards increasing my, an SEM, search engine visibility.

Give me a break. It's because of crap like this that I have to spend extra hours on the phone ensuring my potential clients that, regardless of their past experiences, I am not going to rip them off. Its hard enough for us real Search Engine Marketers and Search Engine Optimizers to explain the quantum physics that is Search Engine Optimization... we definitely don't need companies such as the "Official Internet Registry & Optimization Bureau" making it any more difficult.