The Type of SEO company to avoid

[whitebark]

This just dropped into my email inbox:

"This is Ankit Jain from Clearpath Technology. I came across your website recently and decided to take a look around. If you've ever wondered what more you can do to rank higher in Google, Yahoo and MSN (the big three) then we like to offer you some suggestions on how to increase traffic and ultimately increase SALES on your website."

Domain in question - travelnewfoundland.info

And for those wondering why this matters - it's a freakin' parked domain.

Do these companies even bother to check before spamming (that's what it is) someone to make sure the domain is really serving as a website?

On a side note - I also run directories and I have started a list of "seo" companies to avoid. You know they should be avoided when they do the above, but also when they can't even submit their own website to a directory without screwing it up. This company will join the roll.

Lesson here - shop around. Everyone these days seems to call themselves an expert.

 

[nicholas]

I agree-- same goes for all sorts of other "experts" (design, writers, hosts, etc.).. it's not only the shady purveyors of Viagra who deserve to be blacklisted.

What's really interesting isn't that these spammers spam, but that they survive because there are still many suckers who buy into them and keep them alive and thriving.

 

[Ken_]

have you got the special one that you can be on a special list for 5k a month
someone will fall for it

 

[enlytend]

Signs of "SEO experts" to avoid:

1) Sending you spammy solicitations, like the one Whitebark got.
2) Guarantees you a specific high ranking, especially in a short period of time - No-can-do. Well, certain tricks may get you there temporarily ... then your site gets banned!
3) Anyone who says they're going to optimize your keyword meta (a sure sign of they're either a time traveller from 1999 or totally clueless ).
4) Anyone who boasts they'll submit you to "hundreds of search engines". Not only are there only a handful that matter, but you don't need to "submit a site" to them. Ever. More likely they're feeding their farm of link directories.
5) Be very wary of anyone who guarantees they'll get you "on the first page of Google" for very competitive keyword(s) - be sure they explain HOW they intend to do this. (See #2). They may be planning to use SEM (Adwords) instead than SEO (natural search rankings). Hey - its still the first page, right? Nothing wrong with SEM but trying to pass it of as SEO is pure "bait and switch".

Anyone want to add to the list?

BTW, don't assume that a great ranking for "SEO" means the company is the world's best SEO, or vice versa. Their site should of course be indexed in the major search engines, but ever hear the saying "the shoemaker's children go barefoot"? They are probably ranking for more specific and productive phrases and if they're REALLY good, they'll have enough word-of-mouth referrals that it doesn't matter if their own site is #1 or #10,001.

Kind of like how ridiculous it would be for Google to spend time and money making sure they rank well for "search engine" :D.

Its the ones going around spewing hot air that you have to watch out for.

 

[whitebark]

Great post enlytend!

 

[Keral_Patel]

I agree and sadly I have to tell that this seems like an Indian name. I am ashamed of being an Indian when things like this happen.

 

[diegoid]

Avoid: The one that promises a top 10 and you can't find them in a top 10 for their keywords (Example: seo companies)

 

[brotherZ]

I have had these so-called SEO companies actually find my phone number and call me to push their SEO services.
I would never go with a SEO company who spam me by email or phone.

 

[whitebark]

I agree and sadly I have to tell that this seems like an Indian name. I am ashamed of being an Indian when things like this happen.

Oh don't worry about that - there are flakes and hacks from all corners of the earth - and besides - if they are willing to spam, they are probably also willing to fake their name! LOL