Search engines like honesty.

If only one out of every three sites that Google returns on a search for Free Internet Consultation actually offers free internet consultations, it reflects poorly on Google, especially if another search engine can do better.

While it is certainly possible to stump the public with the truth (and the TV Show To Tell The Truth gives us plenty of examples), do you really want to convince your target audience that you’re exactly like the people who are pretending to do what you do?

Something Only an Expert Would Know

One of the things that the judges in To Tell The Truth look for, are signs of expertise. If a contestant is comfortable talking about his history, skills, and profession, and if he is able to explain what otherwise inexplicable jargon means, the judges will be more likely to consider the contestant genuine.

Educate the Judge

Clients like Judges in To Tell The Truth usually do not share your skills and knowledge. This is part of why they will look for someone like you to help them out.

However, this also means that clients and the judges cannot always tell real knowledge apart from false expertise. The more you can do to educate them about what your industry can (and can’t) do, the less likely it is that they’ll throw their lot in with a shim-sham artist.

One of These Contestants Has Sworn to Tell the Truth

Google can’t always tell when you lie. However, their staff and computer programs constantly get better at picking out warning signs that someone might be lying about who they are or what services they offer.

If they do catch you lying (or even acting like a liar) they will likely reduce your rankings. They do this precisely so that their users wont be faced with two inaccurate sites for every accurate site.

In short, it simply isn’t worth it to lie – not if it’s important that people see your website and come back to it repeatedly.