How do you know if you can trust your SEO agency? These are the red flags of a bad SEO agency you should watch out for!
7 Red Flags of a Bad SEO Agency
You want to boost your SEO rankings, but how? You need a digital marketing agency that can grow your business organically, without employing shady tactics.
Let’s dive into all the ways in which a local business can create and maintain an online presence for today’s increasingly digital world.
Tell-Tale Signs of a Bad SEO Agency
No two SEO agencies operate the exact same. One agency might craft an SEO campaign slightly different than another, and that’s okay. There are multiple ways to get your website to where it needs to be.
What is not alright is when an agency uses corner-cutting strategies, known as black hat methods, to improve your rankings. While SEO strategies will vary from agency to agency, the use of certain unethical SEO practices should have you scurrying away as quickly as possible.
Black Hat SEO vs. White Hat SEO
When trying to optimize a website, you have the ever-watchful eye of Google that can catch you trying to cheat the system. Black hat SEO refers to practices that go against Google guidelines. In other words, SEO agencies can use methods that search engines do not approve of in order to manipulate their results.
When you hear the term white hat SEO, you know you are in good hands. White hat practices are search engine optimization techniques that follow approved methods to achieve organic results.
The Consequences of Black Hat SEO
Did you know a website can be blacklisted? Black hat SEO can lead to search engines removing an entire site from their lists. Can you imagine the repercussions to your business and revenue stream?! Black hat tactics come with a price, and those consequences will tank a business in no time.
What can you do to ensure you avoid the potential pitfall of partnering with a less-than-stellar marketing agency? Look for these seven red flags of a bad SEO agency!
Look for These Red Flags of a Bad SEO Agency
#1 - Promises Permanent High Rankings
As the old saying goes, “If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.” That principle applies to SEO promises. Yes, it is possible for a business to achieve a #1 ranking. After all, that is the goal. The problem is the permanent promise.
Google changes its algorithms like the wind changes direction, which means that rankings shift and move around just as much. As search engines alter their qualifications, search results play a continual game of shuffleboard.
Plus, you aren’t the only company out there trying to earn that coveted spot. When competitors create new content and update their websites, the rankings change. A reputable SEO agency should know better than to sell you on the premise that your site will forever hold top rankings.
#2 - Guarantees Overnight Success
Although a site can make significant jumps from hard-earned clicks and quality traffic, overnight success with a website ranking for multiple keywords out of nowhere should be a cause for concern.
Remember those black hat tactics that can get your site de-indexed? Large leaps tend to occur for all the wrong reasons when keyword stuffing, link buying, cloaking, page swapping (and the list goes on and on) are part of the equation.
The bottom line is that Google will eventually catch you. You will be penalized.
No ranking comes without hard work, careful planning, and strategic foresight. Slow and steady wins the race. SEO takes time. Period.
#3 - Lacks a Personal Approach
An SEO agency that does not strive to understand your needs and desires is not worth your money. You don’t want a dictator, you want a partner – a partner that puts time and energy into learning your voice, your message, and your branding.
A one-size-fits-all approach to SEO does not work. Even if an agency has loads of experience serving other clients similar to your field or industry, that does not excuse them from getting to know your personal goals.
A good SEO strategist will become educated about your business. After all, they should be creating content to represent YOU and what your company stands for. Better yet, a wise SEO strategist will put forth effort to evaluate your competition as well.
#4 - Gives Outdated Examples
SEO trends evolve over time. A successful SEO campaign in 2000 will not cut it in today’s technology-driven world. Google is too smart to make SEO a one-and-done deal. When trying to optimize a website, an agency needs to practice up-to-date methods that are relevant to the ever-changing SEO scene that exists right now.
When you are searching for an SEO agency to work with, look for current reviews. Recent clients will be the key to highlighting the current capabilities of an SEO agency. Outdated examples are simply that – outdated.
#5 - Provides No Reports
Want to know if your site ranks for a specific keyword? There’s a report for that. Curious to see the amount of traffic coming to your site based upon organic search queries? Yes, you can receive that information in a report.
Reports are a useful SEO tool to gauge where you started and where you are headed. They are extremely valuable to you as a business owner, and any good digital marketing agency will find them a needed component to their SEO strategy.
What better way to confirm whether a company is seeing results! Reports are that tangible evidence outlining whether your SEO tactics are proving to be successful or needing some improvement.
#6 - Fails to Create Authentic Content
It’s mind-boggling to know that an SEO agency would find it acceptable to post old content, copied content, or computerized content. Do not fall for this trap! You cannot cut corners to find favor in the world of SEO.
Every page of a website needs to contain new and unique content created for that site only. Search engines are experts at finding duplications. Relevant and informative content is the cornerstone of smart content strategy.
You might think that because you have your own content produced just for you, that it is safe to post multiple times across different pages on your site. That is false. SEO is all about fresh, engaging content that is designed with a purpose.
Furthermore, just as a reminder – do not claim the work of someone else as your own. While that should go without saying, you never know what harmful antics might come to light when you are searching for signs of a bad SEO agency.
#7 Thrives on Secrecy
SEO work is not FBI work. An agency does not need to withhold some kind of top-secret SEO practices from you. As a business owner, you have every right to know what methods will be used to increase traffic to your site. Be wary of an agency that tells you otherwise.
Transparency is vital to your success. If a digital marketing agency is transparent, you can have open conversations about triumphs and failures. An ideal SEO strategist will talk with you about what went right and what went wrong. They will learn from an SEO strategy that yields big results or little results.
Why SEO Matters
When it comes to SEO practices, there are some definite dos and don’ts. If you spot any of these red flags of a bad SEO agency, do your business a favor by staying far away.
Steer clear of black hat tactics. You will find yourself in a hole too deep to climb out of.
You are armed with knowledge now. Be vigilant. Put your time, money, and energy toward a digital marketing agency that has your best interest in mind.
While every agency is bound to have operational differences, a reputable SEO agency will utilize organic, ethical methods to optimize your website.
At GYBO Marketing, we listen to the concerns of our clients to address their specific needs. Growing your business is our goal, and we want to see you succeed.
With more than a decade of experience, our knowledgeable team provides relevant and up-to-date marketing services, without the use of black hat SEO practices. We work hard to engage your audience through creative content designed just for YOU!
Contact us today to see how our tried and true methods can help your business!
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Passionate digital marketing expert with over 10 years of experience. Broad, hands-on marketing skillset, from web developer, SEO, PPC, Data Analytics & Tracking.