As Featured in
As featured in PC World, INC & Fast Company, Biz Journals, MarketingTool.com and Kudzu.com
Marketing Advertisement Directory and Gallery
Client Website and WebMail Login
Site Map
Renew Your SEO, Conversion Consulting, or eMail Marketing Agreement
Free Tools for Internet Marketing and Search Engine OptimizationContact UsHome
Questions?
View Your Shopping Cart Here
Article Archives
Avoid Being Scammed By Unqualified SEO Companies

Search engine optimization is a lengthy process that can require a lot of time and attention to small details.  You’ll need to know how to research keywords, change your site to meet SEO standards, and have the time to review your traffic statistics and make changes to your strategy.  If this all sounds a bit too time-consuming for you, you may want to consider hiring a firm that handles search engine optimization on a professional basis.  While there are many firms with solid credentials and many satisfied clients, there are also some dishonest people who claim to be SEO experts when they really have little or no experiencing with optimizing web sites.  Knowing how to avoid these firms can help you to save a lot of time, money, and frustration and have your site optimized by a real professional.

Avoid Firms Using Unethical or Unusual SEO Techniques

A truly professional search engine optimization expert will review your web site and tell you how their firm plans to increase your search engine ranking.  Some of the methods reputable firms use include building links to your web site, adding keyword-rich custom content to your existing content, and submitting your site to the search engines to be indexed.  If the person you’re dealing with proposes using any unethical or unusual SEO techniques such as overusing keywords or using hidden text on any part of your web site, continue your search for an SEO firm.  These methods are not accepted in the professional SEO community and may even get your web site banned from the search engines.


Review Professional References

Reputable SEO firms should have references from their previous clients.  In fact, professional SEO firms will want to share their references with you to show you how successful they are with optimizing web sites.  If you are given contact information for references, be sure to ask a lot of questions about how well the firm performed their services and whether or not the clients were satisfied with the results.  If any SEO company refuses to give references, continue your search for an SEO firm because any firm that won’t offer reference information is likely to be inexperienced or unqualified.

Avoid Firms that Promise Immediate Results

Web site optimization is a long process that must be consistently tweaked in response to changes in how search engines rank web sites.  A reputable SEO firm will not make guarantees that seem to good to be true.  Some companies may promise top ten rankings, but let you know up front that these results can take several months or even a year to achieve depending on how competitive your keywords are and how often you update your site.  Firms promising immediate top ten rankings should be shied away from, as no one can guarantee these fast results because of the way the search engines are constantly changing their indexing and ranking methods.

Request Work Samples

The great thing about looking for an SEO firm to work with is that you can ask to see the results of their optimization efforts.  Most firms will be glad to show you that they have achieved top ten rankings for their clients’ web sites.  You’ll be able to see what keywords were used to optimize each site and how the keywords were integrated into the content.  Anyone who won’t show you their SEO results probably hasn’t achieved good results and should be avoided.

Knowing how to avoid being scammed by unqualified SEO companies can help you to save your money for a more reputable SEO firm that will help you to optimize your web site and achieve top ten search engine rankings for your business.


Copyright© 1999-2007 Konsultco, dba Better eMarketing. All rights reserved.This article is protected by United States copyright and other intellectual property laws and may not be reproduced, rewritten, distributed, re-disseminated, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast, directly or indirectly, in any medium without the prior written permission of Konsultco. Better eMarketing is a division of Konsultco.

Reprints and Linking
If your Web site is interested in linking to stories on our site, go to http://www.betteremarketing.com/aboutus_linking.html for instructions and to download the Better eMarketing button for your home page. For reprint permission or to receive a list of linkable article(s) each month, contact the Publications Coordinator.


Was this article helpful?

Sign Up for more FREE Information!
Give Us the Green Light to Prepare a FREE Consultation and Quote to Meet Your Needs
2006 eMail and SEO Article Archives
2005 eMail and SEO Article Archives
2004 eMail and SEO Article Archives


Privacy Policy   l   Website Usage Terms                      Copyright© 1999-2007 Konsultco, dba Better eMarketing. All rights reserved.