When a client requests SEO assistance, one of the key warning indicators to be aware of is if they insist upon fast and guaranteed ranking results. It is important to remember that this approach is unrealistic and unethical, as effective SEO requires an in-depth understanding of how search engines operate. When I make an offer to a client, it's important that they understand there are multiple factors involved in achieving the desired outcomes. For example, when I am hired for an SEO project, the client should be aware that one blog post won't necessarily produce top rankings; rather, consistent blogging and both on-page and off-page optimization work should also be considered.
Some business owners and marketers have the misconception that an SEO campaign is a foolproof, one-way ticket to the top of Google. While a well-rounded strategy of high-quality link building and site optimization does help to improve search performance, it's not a one-time effort or a quick fix. If a potential client expects to rank in position one for highly competitive keywords in a very short timeframe, or on a shoestring budget, it should tell you that they have unrealistic expectations. Pursuing these clients, while not correcting their misconceptions, may leave you vulnerable to a disgruntled customer who is near-impossible to please.
A clear sign that your client’s SEO efforts are going off the rails is if they start asking you to do stuff that contradicts what you’ve previously told them works best. They’ve already done your discovery phase, which means they know what your strategy is. If they start pushing you to do something inauthentic or against the grain of your recommendations, it means they’re off course or have lost touch with the work you’ve already done together. Don’t do it — you need to have a conversation and get back on track.
Marketing & Outreach Manager at ePassportPhoto
Answered 3 years ago
My first step when a client reaches me out is sending him or her a form to identify what type of SEO actions I am expected to help in. It happens I receive a response like "why should I do it" or "I have no time for that". Attention, the red flag ahead! If someone can't spend 10 minutes describing what I should do, how can I expect the same person to invest time in the whole process of SEO?
One red flag to look out for when a client reaches out for help with their SEO is if the client is looking for quick, easy, and guaranteed results. Often, this is an indication that the client does not have a comprehensive understanding of SEO and may be trying to take shortcuts that will lead to diminished results. Additionally, you should be wary of any requests to purchase backlinks, as this can lead to Google penalties and harm the client's website ranking.
When a client reaches out looking for help with their search engine optimization (SEO), one red flag to watch out for is an ask for guaranteed rankings or immediate results. Although SEO professionals strive to get the best results and make meaningful changes, SEO takes time and consistent effort to ensure that it yields successful outcomes. Clients should be mindful of how unrealistic promises of improved SEO rankings right away could indicate that the person they are working with doesn't completely understand how the process works. It's important to ask the right questions when researching potential service providers so you can be sure you're getting what you need for your website's success.
One red flag to look out for is if the client demands immediate results and guarantees a specific ranking within a short period of time. This is not a realistic expectation as SEO takes time and effort, and ranking factors are constantly changing, making it impossible to guarantee a specific ranking.
One common red flag from clients is a low willingness to pay for SEO services. This is often caused by the client having misconceptions of what SEO actually involves. Lots of clients will have worked with cheap providers before and this gives them an unrealistic expectation of how SEO services are priced. However, it's likely that the cheap services they've received in the past have often done more harm than good for their website. These cheaper vendors usually take advantage of the client's lack of understanding and charge them for spammy or black hat practices knowing that they won't be able to tell the difference. If a client really wants to invest in a long-lasting and high-quality SEO strategy, they'll need to be willing to pay a fair price for the hard work involved.
If I were to point out one thing to look out for when a client reaches out for help with their SEO, it would be if they are expecting quick results and guarantee first-page ranking. SEO is a long-term process that requires effort, patience, and building. Any company promising immediate results or a guarantee of a certain ranking is likely using unethical techniques that can result in penalties from search engines, especially as of recently. It's important to find an SEO company that has a transparent and sustainable approach to SEO and doesn’t promise unobtainable results in ridiculous time frames. Honesty is the best policy, and that’s what you should be looking out for in an SEO company.
One red flag to look out for when a client reaches out for SEO help is if they have a history of using black hat SEO, and knows about it. This technique can decrease traffic because it does not follow the terms of use given by Google. Organic traffic is greatly affected by this because the links are removed completely from search, ruining the longevity of SEO methods for one’s business.
A client without specific goals is going to be very difficult to deal with. They might have the tangible deliverable they need but have no specific goal like increasing sales by 10% or getting 100 new leads. Mainly, it's going to be difficult for you to set a price. Also, how will you measure successful work completion? If they don't know what they are trying to achieve, how will they know when they get there? How will you know when you get there? Not having a goal opens up an opportunity for you to go back and forth with your client. They are likely to claim they are not happy with your work if they don't feel like paying. But if they have a goal, you will show proof of successful goal completion, and skip any risks of going back and forth with them.
SEO takes time and quite a bit of investment before you will see a return. Not to mention nobody can honestly guarantee results such as ranking #1 for a highly competitive keyword after a few months. Unfortunately, this is quite a big hurdle to get over for prospective clients looking for help with their SEO. If a potential client seems quite hesitant about the timeline for results or looking for guaranteed rankings over a short period it might be best to let that work go. You will save yourself a lot of headaches.
One red flag to look out for when a client reaches out for help with their SEO is if they have unrealistic expectations about what they can achieve with SEO. Many clients believe that SEO is a magic wand that will suddenly make their website rank at the top of Google for a particular keyword. Clients who have unrealistic expectations or a lack of understanding about the time and effort required to achieve and maintain strong search rankings may also be difficult to work with. It's important to have open and honest conversations with clients about what can realistically be achieved through SEO and to set expectations accordingly. This can help avoid frustration and disappointment down the line.
While it’s important for SEO companies to take the lead and execute what they need to, most brands need to be willing to collaborate and meet you halfway with necessary deliverables. This is why, when a client asks you to take care of everything, it’s surely a red flag you need to watch out for. Instead, choose clients who are ready to give you the resources you need to execute the job well.
SEO is undoubtedly one of the most crucial parts of any online business and it takes meticulous effort to build and maintain a brand’s SEO. If a company wants the best quality within their small budget, consider it one of the most common red flags. Moreover, SEO is largely a dynamic and challenging field and the costs for an SEO company’s services keep varying. This is why it’s best to work with companies who are willing to compensate you for your effort.
When a client requests SEO assistance, one red flag to look for is the use of black-hat techniques such as keyword stuffing or link farming. Black hatting is a major red flag to watch out for when clients reach out for help with their SEO. Black-hat techniques can provide a short-term rankings boost but can negatively affect a website's search engine optimization performance. Be sure to inquire about any potentially shady tactics your clients are advocating for.
Director at Webpop Design
Answered 3 years ago
As an agency owner, it's important to be aware of potential red flags when a client reaches out for help with their SEO. One red flag to look out for is a client who is overly focused on quick results. Clients who are looking for instant or overnight results are a cause for concern. SEO is a long-term process that requires time and effort to see results. Clients who are not willing to invest the time and effort required to see real results are unlikely to be satisfied with the outcome. Clients who are not transparent about their past SEO efforts. Clients who are not forthcoming about their past SEO efforts may be hiding something. It's important to be aware of a client's history to ensure that their website is not penalized by Google for previous black hat SEO tactics.
When you see an SEO or SEO agency promise rankings, it’s a red flag. It is because those SEO agencies that promise guaranteed ranking are often guilty of black hat SEO practices. There is no surety of ranking and no one can guarantee it. So you should look for agencies that never promise specific rankings. Google promotes strict policies against promising specific ranking positions when offering SEO services. So, if you see an agency approach you with promised ranking, you can understand its major #1 red flag. A good SEO agency tries to bring your website to the top of Google's page in legal and right ways. It tries to bring organic traffic to the website. Many times, a black-hat SEO uses the deliberate manipulation of search engine indexes for higher ranking.
As someone who has been doing SEO for quite a while now, one red flag to watch out for when a client reaches out is if they ask you to promise them specific rankings. Even though the goal of any search engine optimization (SEO) campaign should be to improve visibility on various search engines, vendors can never guarantee exact rankings in an outcome-oriented way. They should be able to discuss the benefits of their services and provide measurable goals that are rooted in real analytics and data rather than an overpromise of what could never realistically be accomplished. It's more intelligent to set realistic goals such as increasing the traffic on the website or gaining more brand exposure so it increases the overall ranking in the long run
When a client contacts you for assistance with their SEO, one warning sign to watch out for is if they demand promises of first-page Google rankings. A high position is something that no professional SEO expert or firm can promise because it depends on numerous variables, including algorithm upgrades and competition, that is out of their control. Without taking into account the value and appropriateness of the material on their website, a client who is only concerned with ranking is more likely to participate in unethical tactics like link purchasing or keyword stuffing, which could have long-term detrimental effects on their website business. Client should be avoided if they appear more focused on making quick money than developing a reliable and long-lasting web presence.