The world of SEO can be a tricky one. There are countless platforms, algorithms and expert guides telling you how you need to go about it. While most of this information is accurate, it can also make things seem a bit overwhelming for smaller businesses that don’t have the resources available to big players.The SEO marketplace is full of companies that promise to deliver results but don’t always deliver. There are risks associated with working with any company, but if you're working with a third-party SEO firm it's important to understand what those risks could be and how to mitigate them if possible. Keep reading to learn more about these risks and how to avoid them if you decide to outsource SEO services from an agency or freelancer. Read on to learn more about what you should look for when evaluating an SEO agency or freelancer.
Rigorous Website Audit and SEO Strategy
If you decide to hire an SEO firm to do a website audit for you, you want to make sure they do a thorough job. Many SEO firms will do a very general audit, only looking at things like page titles and internal link structure. Depending on the size of your company, this may not be sufficient.A good audit will look at things like your content, keywords, on-page SEO, site architecture, user experience, and competitor research. When you hire an SEO firm, make sure they do this audit thoroughly and include it in their report. If they don’t, it’s likely that they don’t know what they’re doing and could do more harm than good.If you hire a freelance SEO specialist, they should have a rigorous audit report that you can review and use to base your SEO strategy on.
Using Black-hat SEO Techniques
Black-hat SEO is when you use illegal or unethical practices to get higher rankings. While there are many SEO techniques that are frowned upon, there are some that could potentially get you a higher search engine position. There are many examples of black-hat SEO techniques that you should steer clear of.Some of these include link schemes, cloaking, and paid links. It’s important to do your research to make sure that the techniques you’re using are ethical. If you’re not sure, don’t use them.Another example of black-hat SEO is spamming your content and flooding the SERP with links. While this can get your company some quick traffic, it’s not a sustainable way to rank a website.
Losing Money on Bad Contracts and Hidden Fees
When you work with an SEO firm or freelance SEO specialist, you should look at everything they charge upfront, as well as the contract you sign. Make sure there are no hidden fees or additional charges that come as a surprise later on in the process.If you’re not sure what to look for in a contract, there are a few things to keep an eye out for. Make sure there are no non-disclosure agreements, cancellation fees, or penalties for breach of contract. Make sure you also have a clear timeline for the project, a budget for the project, and a description of what will be delivered.If you’re working with a team of SEO specialists, make sure they’re providing detailed progress reports and keeping you in the loop at all times. It’s also a good idea to set up a recurring meeting where you and the SEO firm review progress and expectations.
Being Shamed or Burned by Bad Reviews
Bad reviews happen to everyone. While most people are able to recover from them and bounce back, they can be detrimental to your business if you don’t handle them correctly. You can’t control what other people say about your business, but you can take steps to mitigate the damage if they’re negative. Before you publish a review, make sure you have a strategy in place to deal with negative feedback.Some things you can do include reviewing the review, responding to it, and asking the person to change it if possible. Others include asking friends and family to review your business. You can also take legal action against companies that publish false reviews.
Being Scammed Out of Your Money
The world of SEO is filled with cons like fake promises of high search engine rankings, companies that don’t have the skills or experience to actually do the work, and companies that will promise anything to get your business. There are also plenty of scammers who will create fake websites and send out emails designed to trick you into handing over your money.This is a very difficult problem to solve, as it relies on people being honest and upfront with you. If you’re dealing with an SEO firm, make sure you do your due diligence to check their legitimacy. You can do this by going through their portfolio and seeing if their work matches the company’s claims.
Conclusion
When you outsource SEO services, there are always risks involved. If you’re working with a third-party SEO company, you want to make sure they have the skills and experience to do the job properly. While the SEO marketplace is full of companies that promise to deliver results, there are also plenty of companies that will take your money and do nothing.By keeping these risks in mind, you can make sure that your SEO strategy is a success.