Top 10 SEO Scams and How to Avoid Them
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I broached this topic a long time ago, but with so many so called SEO Experts popping up, I felt the need to revisit the topic. To preface this, lets first discuss why there are suddenly so many “internet marketing gurus” out there. When you consider the economy, and how many have lost their jobs it is understandable to see why people have looked for new sources of income. Many have turned to the internet as a way to try and build a business. With some of the claims around the internet on how easy everything is, it is natural for people who want to make money without putting in the effort. So, people buy into different programs, are desperate to build their client base, and therefore offer outrageous claims as to their service ability. Now, this is not why ALL SEO scams exist, but it is certainly playing a role as to why we are seeing an increase in them.
There are a growing number of unethical SEO Consultants and SEO Companies that take advantage of naive website owners. The best defense against falling prey to one of these scams, is to become educated on SEO yourself. You can run some tests on your own. I always like to refer people to Hubspot’s www.websitegrader.com. You can run your website through some preliminary analytics to see how well it fares. You will see this blog has a score of 98. Last time I checked the company website (www.novelconceptstudio.com) was a 95 or 96. I would suggest not only reviewing your website through this tool, but also that of any prospective SEO provider you might be considering. If they can’t optimize their own website, what makes you think they will be able to optimize yours? There is no greater defense against SEO scams then to become a little more educated on the topic yourself. Now let’s take a look at some of the more prevalent red flags in the SEO Industry.
#1. Guaranteed Rankings
This is a big one and plays off the desires of customers who want guarantees. Google themselves have come out and said that any SEO Firm offering guaranteed rankings should throw up a red flag. You can read more about this here: http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=35291
Pay close attention to the line that says, “No one can guarantee a #1 ranking on Google. Beware of SEOs that claim to guarantee rankings.” This is straight from Google. Now, if you have reviewed my company website you will see we offer a Guarantee. However, this guarantee has nothing to do with page 1 rankings and results. The guarantee is that we will improve your current positioning.
Page 1 Guarantees can be dicey because that also could mean that companies get desperate to attain those rankings and will do so by any means necessary. This includes blackhat techniques, which may result in having your website eventually removed from Google’s index entirely!
#2. Submitting Your Site to Thousands of Search Engines.
Who cares? Google, MSN, and Yahoo are nearly 94% of all searches with Google being 2/3 itsself. In fact, most of the other search engines will piggy back the main search engines when determining their search results. So, focus in on Google, MSN, and Yahoo. If you’re really pressed for time and resources, then just worry about Google!
#3. They know someone at Google, or have a partnership with Google.
Simply put, no they don’t. Google employees are under strict NDA’s and if you read the link to Google Support referenced above you will see Google tells you they have no special partnerships.
#4. Their methodologies are trade secrets.
Obviously, each respectable company will have some proprietary things they use. But if they can’t explain things like their link building practices, what areas of the website they will be updating, etc then this should throw up a red flag.
#5. They know Google’s algorithm.
People within Google don’t even necessarily know this. There are hundreds of variables involved, and they are CONSTANTLY changing. Google’s whole existence is based on them being able to deliver the search results you need and to do this, they are always tinkering with their algorithm. People know pieces, but not the entire thing.
#6. Free Trial Services.
With proper SEO, there are so many steps involved in the very beginning that any self respecting SEO would never offer such a trial. Anyone that offers this, is not truly offering SEO.
#7. Under Priced Services
You get what you pay for, and truer words could not be spoken in the SEO realm. If you cannot afford to properly invest into your SEO strategy, then buy some books and do it yourself. You will most likely do a better job than paying some of the outrageously cheap prices some “SEO gurus” charge.
#8. Front Page Within 48 Hours.
Here is another that seems to be coming on strong lately. In almost all instances it is actually referring to pay per click.
#9. Companies or Experts Who Don’t Answer Your Questions or Take Several Days to Respond.
This should throw up a red flag immediately. If they beat around the bush and can’t answer a direct question, this is major cause for concern. Likewise, if they take several days or weeks to respond to an inquiry then obviously you or not of any importance to them.
#10. Firms that take Ownership of Content.
All property should belong to the client. Read the fine print of any service agreement to ensure you are not dealing with a firm that plans on holding your content hostage.
Taking the time to learn a little more about the industry can help you to avoid the headaches and hassles of dealing with an SEO scam. Do your research on the company or expert you are engaged with. Ask them questions. Ideally, ask them questions YOU already know the answer to. Do this by running some initial analytics on your own website before engaging with an expert.
Have you come across other SEO scams not mentioned here? Share with the community to put shed some light on the topic!
Be sure and subscribe for the latest web marketing strategies and updates! Justin McGill is a web marketing professional and runs a successful Small Business SEO Firm. He is the founder and CEO of SEORCHERS (read: [surch-ers]) - a local web marketing firm specializing in organic search engine optimization (SEO) with a focus on converting visitors into clients.
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My two favorite: Guaranteed Rankings and They Know the Algorithm. Its simply ridiculous that people will fall for this kind of stuff, but I guess if all they know about SEO is that “it’s great for driving traffic to your site,” I can see how easy it is for these SEO scams to successfully do their thing. Anyone looking to incorporate some SEO into their site should read a great blog like this. But again, some don’t even bother to do any research, they just figure “why do research when I can pay this guy to do everything for me?” Why? So you don’t get scammed, that’s why.
Grant´s last blog ..Free Government Grants
Cool article. THANKS.
Evden Eve Nakliyat´s last blog ..expertiz mutlaka yaptırın
Its very nice article worthy to read this. Thanks for sharing it.
Hi Justin,
This post was a eye opener for many people. These days I see many people asking the SEO companies whether they can guarantee 1st page ranking in google. This is also a reason that fake SEO firms give this as an advertisement.
Thanks,
Steve
Having fallen to SEO/traffic for sale scheme before myself, I’m learly about everything SEO. The problem with SEO service is that it is so very difficult to evaluate what you’re paying for… until it’s too late. Money spent, web site banned, what are you gonna do?
Sorry to hear that – If your website has been banned, then you can try and report to Google and try getting back into their good graces.
I didn’t know Google put that much effort in explaining SEO business, but it only makes sense. There are so many ‘seo gurus’ around it’s hilarious. The only thing that should count is references from previous seo work. Talking about knowing everything is a sure sign of a failure SEO.
I would also say watch out for spam e-mails selling SEO services. I get these all the time, and they always state many of the things you covered above. Nice post!
Yes, it’s really difficult to find a real SEO. I agree that no one can garantee #1 ranking on SE, but SEO should at least improve the position. Better not hire black-hat SEO as they can damage your website rather than improving it.
haha, this list made me a giggle a few times. #3 and #5 made me laugh…knowing someone at google, ha. Although, with Bing’s “decision engine” maybe this would pay off if you had friends who worked at Bing, heh.
All the “seo” experts on twitter annoy me
Jennifer @ How Refinancing Works´s last blog ..How Does Refinancing Work?
Useful tips.thanks for sharing your ideas.
I agree with your article. Guaranteed rankings are such bs. You can’t guarantee anything out of your control
godaddy coupons´s last blog ..HostGator
Heh, yes I guarantee you will be on the first page of google this time next week.. Dream on! I also like companies that suggest they can get your site listed on google 60 seconds after going live…
Why do so many people fall for this rubbish?
I agree with your thoughts as SEO is a step by step process to achieve rankings and can take time, SEO process should be taken strategically as every business has different market and customers, it should be planned and processed accordingly.
Really informative stuff, thanks.
I think its a bad idea to tell people to use one free tool (website grader) to check if a design company’s website is optimized. I would suggest instead to use a multitude of tools and read a couple of SEO forums – get some questions together and ask the company. “What are some of your targeted keywords?” “Where are you located in the search engine for those keywords?” “Can you give me some examples of previous work, can I contact a previous client” etc. My point is that there is not one tool or one easy solution to decide if a company is optimized correctly – you need to do some research, you need to ask some questions.
And obviously, if they say any of the stuff that you’ve highlighted here – run the other way.
Rachel, website grader is used to give you a general overview of where things stand. Certainly SEO’s know there is more to the story. However, this post in general was directed to a business owner that simply just isn’t going to be able to know the nuances of SEO and needs an overview. Website Grader offers that and should be used as a “guiding light” so to speak.
In modern web-marketing maze it is impossible to go on your own, there are too many SEO companies, too many advisors. Some of them say one thing, some say other. And there is again 100% right that only your own experience with optimized site can give you what you need – the experience. In this case we get the only reasonable information that could be compared later to what people say or write.
Re: Guaranteed Rankings. While I agree with your post in general, I do think it’s possible to guarantee rankings for local searches (keyword, city) which aren’t as competitive.
Just because they aren’t as competitive now, doesn’t mean it won’t be 6 months from now. Companies that utilize SEO has more than doubled in the past 2 years. This trend is only going to continue. Not to mention, if you guarantee a ranking – you attain that ranking, and then tomorrow search engine’s update their algorithm and it pushes you to page 2 just for that day (which say, happens to be the day they check their rankings), then what?
These are pretty good tips. Usually when firm say we will get you on top within a month that’s impossible.
Farooq Ahmed´s last blog ..Microsoft-Yahoo-Deal
I think #9 and #10 are very important. If you are paying someone you should be able to contact them and have them respond in a short amount of time and your blog/website is YOURS and no one should be able to make a claim on it but you.
Dwippy DoFollow´s last blog ..Blog Comments
Nice post. I agree with most of what your SEO scam guide mentions, with one exception. When you consider all the rip-offs calling themselves SEO’s these days, the only way to keep things fair is to offer a positioning guarantee to clients. Of course you cannot emphatically guarantee to a client that the search engines’ algos will respond to your efforts, however, unless they do, your client will not have to pay for “incompetency.”
My own Top 10 SEO Scam List
http://www.thevisibledentist.com/avoid.php
Seven Steps To Avoid SEO Scams
http://www.thevisibledentist.com/blog/7-simple-steps-to-avoid-seo-scams/
Interview Discussing Google’s Warning
http://womeninbusiness.about.com/od/newsreviewsinterviews/a/john-barremore_3.htm
John Barremore
Houston, TX
Very nice post. Very helpful. Number 1 is very ridiculous because no one can guarantee a #1 ranking in Google. Also number 9 and 10 are very true. Thanks for this information. I hope all new to online business can read this post so that they will be informed and warned. Anyway, Good Job!
The SEO industry has changed alot over the years, what used to work before, doesn’t work anymore. You obviously know what the deal is, but I can’t wait to see the changes of Google in the next few months.
The SEO field is unknown to the general public. Therefore, unfortunately, any of the 10 scams above can be used to generation multiple sales.
It’s unfortunate that scammers make it harder for all legitimate SEO’s to do business.
toni@stucco´s last undefined ..If you register your site for free at
Most people have no clue what SEO is. I think that overtime choosing SEO pro would be like choosing any other service such as accountant.
Jim@spray foam insulation´s last undefined ..Response cached until Thu 20 @ 4:37 GMT (Refreshes in 10.56 Hours)
No one can guarantee rankings – if you see someone or some service advertising this, think very very carefully about choosing that service. Great list – I think you’ve hit all the points
Becks @ Monster Bride Costume´s last blog ..Disclaimer
Glad those points got addressed. There are too many SEO companies scamming people by giving false info, or promising first place. Hah, there’s only one first place on the search engine, that can’t be promised to anyone.
Best way to avoid SEO scam is to use a company that your friends have used.
Nice tips. You can add. If you’re buying from a website. Check who is and archives of that site as well as its reputation over intenet. Check sites like ripoffreports and other client complaint board where, that’s really help. It is always good idea to ask someone before buying. Where you’re asked to pay thousands of dollars especially.
I once paid an outsourcer to build “200 high quality links” to my website. At the time I didn’t really know what I was doing but I found out later he had simply submit the exact same article to 200 article directories…that was not so much a scam, just taking advantage of someone with no knowledge about SEO…
Cathy @ Cowgirl Halloween Costume´s last blog ..About Us
Before having someone do the work for your site you must first know how to do it yourself to avoid being a victims of this scam.