Don’t Get Scammed by Bad SEO Companies

Have you ever gotten a phone call from a company claiming to “specialize in SEO” and “get your website on the first page of Google”? Did they offer their services with no contract for less then a few hundred dollars a month? If you’re nodding your head right now, you may have been targeted by a scammer. Now pay attention to this next part:

SEO scammers don’t actually do anything for your website. They take your money every month, offering you lower prices each time you call to complain. By the time you’re finally fed up and tell them to hit the bricks, you’ve lost thousands of dollars for nothing. Our clients get calls and emails like this all the time, so we wanted to let everyone know: don’t fall for it!

Here’s 3 questions to ask yourself before paying a company you don’t know to optimize your website for search:

1. Are they certified by the search engines?

Partnering with Google or Bing requires you to pass certain tests and meet strict criteria. If an “SEO firm” is contacting you unsolicited and they are not certified with either Google, Bing or a similar search engine, run.

2. Will they give you something in writing?

Legitimate companies keep a written record of the work they perform. If a company balks when you ask for their SEO claims in writing, hang up the phone.

3. Do they sound too good to be true?

My mom always told me, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is”. Real companies get realistic results and give you realistic expectations. Promising you the moon for free sounds great, but isn’t practically feasible and presents a major red flag.

These scam companies make millions of dollars preying on good-natured businesses trying to promote themselves without spending much. If you want to get your business’ website found by the search engines, do it right. Ask tough questions and make sure the company you trust your money with is using it correctly.

Catapult Creative Media Inc. is a digital marketing and design agency serving south Louisiana and headquartered in Baton Rouge. Founded in 2007, Catapult provides digital, social and mobile marketing solutions backed by relevant strategy and measurable results. Catapult works the web to their clients’ advantage, launching them to their next level of success.