No Direct Competition Policy

Running an online business can feel like "the rat race" as much as a brick-and-mortar store might. Sometimes, making your business successful can seem like jumping hurdles, especially when the competition gets wind of what you have done for your success.

To protect our valued customers, we do not offer services to directly competing websites. Once we service a certain product type, we reserve the right to decline websites in direct competition.**

Please keep in mind that we do service several websites in any given week. But if you are protected, we will NOT service a site in direct competition with you.
Business Race
What Is Considered Direct Competition?

Direct competition includes websites that have the same exact niche, requiring the same meta tags and similar content. This entails specific niches, not general products.
  • For example, we may work on several different types of handcrafted jewelry sites if the style and target market is different. (i.e. Lampwork Jewelry, Crystal Jewelry, Caribbean Jewelry, Silver Jewelry, Monogrammed Jewelry)
  • Websites that are classified as general boutiques (i.e. have many different kinds of products) are not qualified to receive protection.
  • We always keep a Current Client List, including clients who are protected and clients who are not.* If you feel that your site is in direct competition with a site that is protected (even if we have not classified it so), you have the freedom to decline working with us at any time.
AT NO TIME are photo editing and optimization, links directory work, site design, and site reviews covered by the No Direct Competition Policy. ONLY meta tag and content work is covered.

Please contact us if you are unsure if your site is in direct competition with one of our former or current clients.

Who Qualifies for Protection?

Any client working with Jennifer Meinking** is eligible for direct competition protection if the following applies
  • The client has paid for at least 10 hours of meta tag and content work.
  • The client did not have to obtain written permission from a protected client for us to begin work
  • The client's site is NOT classified as a general boutique, with many different kinds of products
There are exceptions to this policy:
  • If the site is classified as a general boutique, with many different kinds of products
  • If the client relationship has been terminated and a refund has been issued
  • If the client relationship has been terminated and previous work done has been changed
  • If the client grants permission to another webmaster (in writing) for us to work with the competing site. (We must receive a forwarded copy of the email granting permission)
  • As indicated above, if less than 10 hours of meta tag and content work have been ordered and the client has chosen not to continue.
Why Aren't General Boutiques Offered Protection?

General boutiques feature many, many products from drop shippers, vendors, or even handmade by the site owner. Because there are just too many differences in general boutiques and too many products to cover, we cannot realistically include them in our no-direct-competition policy.

We do not use the exact same meta titles for general boutique home pages. We have found that while general boutiques may carry some of the same lines as other boutiques, they often have a particular niche that causes them to stand out.

We work towards finding that niche and using it to the clients' advantage, employing proper SEO techniques and encouraging a unique look as well as unique customer service.

Please Note: Direct Competition Protection DOES expire
  • Six months after the client relationship has been completed (the client no longer needs our services)
  • Six months after the last date that work was done on a site that has not been completed (either the client has decided to finish on his or her own or we have not received a response from the client in that time in order to continue with the work)
  • Three months after the last date work has been done if the client has not responded to emails regarding completion of an outstanding order (In this case, a refund less paypal fees will be issued if attempts to communicate are unsuccessful and we cannot complete the order without hearing from the client.)

*If your direct competition protection expires or you have not purchased enough SEO hours, you may reinstate your protection for another six months or activate protection simply by purchasing more hours, provided we have not already started working with a competitor who is protected.
  • If we have begun working with a competitor who is protected, you may opt to work with WebOpter Associates.
  • If we have begun working with a competitor who has not purchased enough hours or whose protection has expired, we reserve the right to work on both sites without providing protection to either site.
**Our affiliate, WebOpter Associates, does not offer direct competition protection, thus is available to work with clients turned away due to this policy.


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