Introduction
You must have heard of search engine optimization (SEO) if you're trying to build a business online. But as pointed out by experts who will be attending Marketing 2.0 Conference’s USA edition, along with all the good, there's also some bad...and in this case, "bad" means scams.
6 Tips To Avoid SEO Scams
- Don't sign an agreement without comprehending what you're getting into.
- Ask about what services are being provided, and ensure you understand them before signing up for them (this is especially important with SEO).
- If it seems too good to be true, it most probably is! There's no such thing as "Black Hat," "Grey Hat," or "White Hat" SEO anymore. Only ethical businesses providing quality services do not engage in unethical practices, with some exceptions.
- If you're being sold on a "package" of services, ensure each component of the package is something you need and understand how it will help your business before agreeing to anything. If the person you're talking with refuses to provide references or testimonials for their work, they could be running a scam, Marketing 2.0 Conference’s speakers reveal.
- Check out reviews of any SEO firm before signing up with them (and don't just rely on positive ones - read both good and bad reviews)
- If you're concerned about some specific SEO firm's services and you want more information, ask them for it. Suppose they can't provide it or don't have an answer. In that case, this could be a red flag, according to the opinions of scam prevention experts who attended the Marketing 2.0 Conference’s previous edition. Avoid any firm that makes promises about your rankings without explaining how their work will help you.
Additional Red Flags To Keep In Mind
- Thought leaders and anti-scam SEO experts, at the Spring Edition of the Marketing 2.0 Conference, urged marketers to ask themselves this question – is the pitch for SEO results too good to be true? Some promises are meant to be broken, especially if they come with little or no effort on your part. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
- Another question to ask yourself– Does the company offer its services free of charge? If yes, you should ask why they're doing that. This might sound like a good deal, but in reality, there's usually an agenda behind this type of offer (e.g., trying to get access to your site). It's better to invest in someone who knows their craft and charges accordingly than someone who has zilch experience in this field and may not even know what they're doing on your website.
- Last one– How long have they been operating? Like any other business model where there's money involved (e-commerce stores), many scams claim that "we've been around since 1998". But the reality will be spoken at eminent platforms and upcoming editions of digital marketing summits, like the Marketing 2.0 Conference, about how such claims are just a scam! Such individuals with nefarious intentions create fake profiles with fake testimonials. They do it so that people will buy their products/services without knowing the authenticity of the claims until the payment is made.
Don’t Trust The Hype, Do Your Homework
The key to avoiding SEO scams is not to get sucked into the hype but to take time and do your homework. Regarding SEO, there's a lot of hype and misinformation out there. While this can be somewhat understandable given the lengths companies will go to market themselves as SEO experts, it's important to remember that not all SEO services are created equal.
For example, if you're looking for an SEO service but don't have time or experience, it would be easy for someone less-than-ethical to take advantage of your vulnerability by offering their services at an inflated price.
Here’s What Google Recommends!
Google and the anti-scam flag bearers who attended the Marketing 2.0 Conference suggest you ask for references and a results list. This is so you can ensure the company will deliver on its promises and also so you can see how they've worked with other clients in your industry.
Think twice if they don't have relevant client accounts or case studies! You want to see what kind of work they've done in the past—not just their claims about how excellent their services are.
Recommendations
- Have a conversation with the companies you're considering, and talk to them on the phone or schedule an in-person meeting. Ask about their experience working with businesses with your niche, what type of results they've seen, and how long they've been in business.
- As per the SEO experts who attended the Marketing 2.0 Conference, the next step in avoiding scams is that you must compare the results each company has produced for their clients. Ask for case studies or examples of work so you can see their previous works. You should also look into their relevant client accounts or case studies on their website—not just their claims of the services!
- In addition to conversing with the companies you're considering, talk to their current and past clients. Ask about their experience working with them and if they are satisfied with the results or not. You should also ask about their pricing model and find out if any hidden fees or costs are involved (like setup fees).
- Understand what search engine optimization means & know what you're dealing with. It's up to you to understand SEO as a marketing tactic so you can ask the right questions and understand what tactics are being used. If a company is unable or unwilling to explain its services in detail and help you understand the process, that's a scam. The Marketing 2.0 Conference highlighted that a good SEO firm should be able to explain how they'll optimize your website for search engines and ensure that it is optimized for human visitors, too (which isn't always easy).
- For example, suppose they use automation tools like site maps and XML sitemaps. In that case, this will ensure that Google understands every page on your site without crawling every single one individually by hand - which would take forever! However, if these automated tools aren't properly implemented, then Google won't see all the pages on your site - rendering them useless.
- Lastly, to avoid SEO scams, marketing enthusiasts attending the winter edition of the Marketing 2.0 Conference appeal to every business head to read reviews about the company before signing a contract or agreeing to pay for services. If there are scammy companies, chances are someone has already called them out for it on a blog or website somewhere. A web search for reviews of potential contractors can go a long way toward avoiding unpleasant surprises when/if you decide to pay for their services.
Conclusion
Don’t get us wrong; there are many exceptional SEO services to choose from. These tips are not meant to be negative; they’re just suggestions on how you can avoid getting scammed by someone who might charge more than they should or offer services that aren’t helpful. However, if you have doubts or need to understand other anti-scam trends, you can follow up with eminent marketing summits like the Marketing 2.0 Conference to learn from the best minds!