Most Common SEO Scams and How Avoid Them

Have you ever heard someone say they can make your website super popular on Google really fast?

It’s something a lot of people hear, but guess what?

It’s usually not true.

In this blog, we’re going to talk about these tricks, often called SEO scams. These are promises that sound amazing, but they don’t really work.

Maybe you’ve seen ads or emails saying they can do magic for your website with almost no effort. But if it sounds super easy, it’s probably not real.

I’m going to show you how to spot these tricks so you don’t waste your money or hurt your website.

So, get comfy and let’s learn together how to stay safe from these too-good-to-be-true SEO promises. You’ll soon know a lot more about this stuff!

What is SEO?

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization and is just about making your website easier to find on search engines like Google.

Think of it like making your website a magnet for people on the internet. It’s all about getting more people to visit your site when they search for something on Google or other search engines.

Imagine search engines like big libraries. But instead of books, they have web pages. When you search for something, the search engine looks through all these pages to find the best matches for you.

How does your website become one of these top matches?

Well, it’s a bit like a puzzle.

You need to set up your website in a way that Google likes. This means making it easy to understand and filled with useful stuff that people are looking for. Also, it helps if other websites link to yours, kind of like making friends on the internet.

SEO isn’t just a one-time thing; it’s a big part of how you market your website. The better you are at SEO, the more people will find and visit your site. It’s like following a recipe – everyone uses the same basic ingredients but in their own unique way.

And that’s what makes your site stand out!

What “NOT” is SEO?

Now, let’s talk about what SEO is not. SEO isn’t a magic button that you press to get instant results.

It’s not something where you do a little work today and see your website at the top of Google tomorrow.

Nope, it takes time, often weeks or even months, to really start seeing the benefits.

Also, SEO isn’t just a one-and-done kind of deal. You can’t just set it up once and forget about it. Imagine it like a garden – you need to keep watering and taking care of it.

If you stop, it won’t stay nice for long. The same goes for your website. If you get it to the top but then just chill and do nothing, it won’t stay at the top for long.

It’s important to remember that SEO rules aren’t set in stone. They’re based on search engine algorithms, which are like the rules of the game.

And guess what?

These rules change pretty often.

So, what worked yesterday might not work tomorrow.

That’s why it’s a good idea to keep learning about SEO or work with professionals who stay up to date with all these changes.

What are SEO Scams?

SEO is like a tool that helps your website get more visitors.

But, just like in any business, there are some people who try to trick others. SEO scams are when some digital marketing companies or consultants trick business owners. They promise to help their websites but don’t really do anything useful, and still, ask for money.

Is all SEO a Scam?

Now, you might be wondering, “Is all SEO a scam?”

The answer is no. Not all SEO is bad.

Most of it is helpful. But, there are a few bad apples out there.

That’s why it’s super important to know a bit about SEO before you hire someone to help with your website.

How do you avoid these scams?

Well, knowing the basics of SEO is a great start. When you’re looking to hire an SEO expert, they should be able to explain everything to you clearly. If they’re talking about doing an audit of your website or making a plan, they should walk you through it so it makes sense.

A good SEO person won’t just throw big words at you. They’ll help you understand what’s going on with your website and how they plan to make it better.

Remember, SEO can involve some complex stuff, but it’s nothing so complicated that it can’t be explained. A true SEO pro knows it’s part of their job to make sure you understand how they’re helping to make your website more visible and popular on the internet.

Top SEO Scams to Watch Out For

#1 Ranking on Google – Guaranteed!

Let’s talk about the most common trick in the SEO world: the promise of being #1 on Google.

Sounds great, right?

But here’s the thing – it’s pretty much a scam.

Here’s why you can’t trust anyone who says they can guarantee you the top spot on Google:

• Impossible Promises: No one can promise a specific spot on Google, especially not the number one spot. Google’s search results change all the time because of many different factors. Even Google says they can’t guarantee this!
• It’s Like a Race: Getting to the top of Google, especially for popular things people search for, is super competitive. Think of it like a race where everyone’s trying to be first. The winners usually have spent a lot of time and money on their SEO.
• Too Good to Be True Prices: If a company says they can get you to the top for a really low price, like $100 or $250 a month, be careful. It’s probably not true. Think about it – if it was that easy and cheap, wouldn’t everyone be doing it?
• Unrealistic Timelines: Some of these scams might tell you they can get you to the top in a set time. But in reality, nobody can promise how fast you’ll see results in SEO.
• Ranking for Weird Stuff: Watch out if a company gets you to rank for things that have nothing to do with your business. Like, if you’re an electrician and they get you ranking for “Halloween pumpkin LED lights,” it’s not really helping you.

Do you know even Google has said that no one can guarantee a #1 ranking.

So, if someone tells you they can, it’s a big SEO scam.

It’s important to understand that SEO is competitive and takes time and money. Quick, cheap fixes are usually too good to be true and are likely scams.

The Agency Has Google’s Secrets

Let’s talk about another SEO trick some people might try to use on you: claiming they have Google’s secret recipe for success.

They might say they’ve got some special knowledge or a secret way to make Google love your website.

But here’s the real scoop:

No Magic Tricks:

Truth is, there’s no secret formula to understand or trick Google’s algorithm. Google’s system is super complex and they keep a lot of it under wraps.

Anyone who says they’ve got it all figured out is probably not telling the truth.

If someone’s helping you with SEO, they should be able to explain what they’re doing and why. If they’re all mysterious and won’t share their methods, that’s not a good sign. Good SEO is all about being clear and honest about the strategies used.

Watch Out for the Bad Stuff:

Sometimes, these “secret method” people might use shady tactics, known as black hat SEO. This includes things like stuffing your website with too many keywords or hiding text.

These tricks might give you a short boost, but Google doesn’t like them and can even punish your site for it.

Real, effective SEO is about using strategies that are proven to work. This includes making your website easy to read and navigate, making it fast, and getting other reputable websites to link to yours.

These are the kinds of things Google looks for.

Note: Google is Always Changing, Always!

Keep in mind, that Google’s algorithm is always evolving.

It looks at hundreds of things on your website and no one knows exactly how it all works. So, anyone who says they’ve cracked the code is likely stretching the truth.

The best approach is transparent, honest, and follows the rules. Remember, in the world of SEO, slow and steady wins the race!

They Know Someone Working At Google

Let’s debunk another SEO scam: the idea that an SEO agency has friends inside Google who can give them special SEO help.

Sounds pretty cool, right? But here’s why this isn’t really something to trust:

Google Partners are Not SEO Wizards

There’s something called a Google Partnership, but it’s all about Google Ads, not SEO.

To be a Google Partner, a company needs to be really good with Google Ads, like passing special tests and using a certain amount of money on ads.

This has nothing to do with being a top gun in SEO.

Ads ≠ SEO

Working with Google on ads doesn’t mean you get any perks in SEO. These two things are like apples and oranges – related, but different.

Just because a company is a Google Partner doesn’t mean they have a magic key to SEO success. Claims about knowing Google’s secret algorithm or getting special treatment for search rankings because of this partnership?

Totally false.

Google Employees’ Roles

Sure, Google might assign people like “Agency Development Manager” to these partner companies. But their job is to help with ad campaigns, not to give secret SEO tips.

They’re more like helpful guides for ads, not undercover SEO agents.

So, in a nutshell, if an SEO agency brags about having insider buddies at Google to boost your SEO, it’s probably not true.

The best SEO strategy sticks to the rules and best practices set by search engines, not secret handshakes or insider connections. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

Claiming to Get 1,000 Website Visitors Every Day

Now, let’s talk about a type of SEO scam that sounds super tempting but is actually not great: the promise of getting tons of website visitors every day, like 500 or 1,000. Sometimes, they even throw in a free trial to sweeten the deal. Here’s why you should be careful with this:

Fake Visitors, Not Real Customers

Often, these so-called “targeted visitors” are not real people interested in what you’re offering. They’re usually bots – like little computer programs that pretend to visit your site. These bots aren’t going to buy anything or care about your business.

What really matters is conversions, which means real people visiting your site and then doing something like buying your product or signing up for your newsletter.

Since bots don’t have wallets, a spike in bot traffic won’t lead to more sales or real customers reaching out. It’s just a number that looks good but doesn’t mean much for your business.

This fake traffic can really mess up your Google Analytics. It’s like getting a map that shows you the wrong roads. You end up making decisions based on bad information.

So, remember, when it comes to getting more visitors to your site, quality beats quantity. Real, interested visitors are way more valuable than a bunch of bots. Keep it real and focus on attracting the right kind of traffic!

We will Build Links Instantly

This scam involves the promise of rapidly building a large number of links to your website and the use of Private Blog Networks (PBNs) for link building.

Bulk Link Building in Few Days

Let’s break down another SEO scam you might come across: the promise of building a ton of links to your website super fast. It sounds like a quick win, but here’s why it’s actually not a good idea:

When it comes to links, Google cares more about quality than just having a bunch of them. A good link is like a thumbs-up from a reputable site that’s related to what you do. Getting these kinds of links usually takes time and effort.

These instant link-building services often give you links from sites that are low quality or not even related to your business.

Google doesn’t like this because it looks like you’re trying to cheat the system.

They have updates, like Penguin, that can tell if you suddenly get a lot of sketchy links. This can raise a red flag for your site.

Risk of Google Penalties: If Google thinks you’re trying to manipulate your rankings with bad links, they can penalize your site. This means your site might not show up as high in search results, which is the opposite of what you want.

Google is getting better and better at catching sneaky tactics. So, trying to outsmart Google with quick fixes is more likely to hurt you than help.

Supporting Private Blog Networks

Private Blog Networks, or PBNs might seem like a shortcut to getting your website noticed, but they’re actually pretty risky. Here’s what you need to know:

A PBN is a bunch of websites that don’t really offer valuable content. They exist just to create links to other sites.

This is supposed to help those other sites rank better on search engines. But here’s the catch – it’s not a great practice.

You might see some quick results with PBNs, and some of them might even claim to be super high-quality and undetectable. But in the long run, they’re pretty risky.

Using PBNs to get more links to your site goes against Google’s guidelines. And trust me, Google’s getting really good at spotting these tricks.

If Google figures out that a website is part of a PBN, they often stop counting those links. Worse, they might even remove those sites from their search results. That means any boost you got from those links disappears, and your site could get penalized.

Even if a PBN claims it’s undetectable by Google, there’s a good chance Google already knows about it. If something’s advertised openly, Google’s probably on it.

The people who run these PBNs?

They’re not really worried about your website’s wellbeing. If Google penalizes their network, they might just keep selling these risky services to others.

Investing in PBNs can end up being a waste of your money. And if your site gets penalized because of it, you might have to spend even more to fix your website’s reputation.

We will send your company’s information to hundreds of search engines

Let’s talk another common but misleading SEO offer: submitting your company’s information to hundreds of search engines. While it sounds impressive, it’s not as helpful as it seems.

When it comes to search engines, a few big names like Google, Bing, and Yahoo dominate the market. In the U.S., they account for over 95% of all search traffic.

So, focusing on these major search engines is what really matters for your SEO.

The other search engines, besides the big ones, have a tiny slice of the market. They’re not that crucial when it comes to being seen online or boosting your SEO.

If you look closely at these hundreds of search engines, you’ll find many are outdated or don’t even exist anymore.

So, sending your info to these places is pretty much a waste of time and doesn’t help your SEO at all.

Big search engines like Google and Bing are really smart. They automatically find and list new websites using their own tools and algorithms. So, manually submitting your site to them isn’t really necessary.

Offering to submit your site to hundreds of search engines is more of a flashy trick than a solid SEO tactic. It sounds like you’re getting a lot, but it doesn’t do much to improve your ranking or online visibility.

Try our Free 30-Day Trial!

Let’s explore why the “Free 30-Day Trial” for SEO services might not be as great as it sounds:

Think of SEO like planting a garden. You can’t just plant seeds and expect them to grow overnight. It takes time for your SEO efforts to show results, just like it takes time for plants to grow.

Usually, you need to wait several months, often around four months or more, to really see the impact of your SEO work. Search engines take a while to notice and rank your content. Any changes you make for SEO today won’t show up in search results immediately.

When someone offers a ‘free 30-day trial’ for SEO, it might sound great. But the truth is, it’s unlikely you’ll see any big changes in just 30 days. SEO just doesn’t work that quickly. This kind of offer can create false hopes.

To show some results in just 30 days, some companies might use shortcuts or quick-fix tactics. These might give you a short-term boost, but they’re not good for the long run. Worse, they might even use bad SEO practices that can hurt your site later.

Sharing your website’s login credentials can be risky. It’s like giving someone the keys to your house. Make sure the company is reputable and trustworthy before handing over such sensitive information.

If you’re a business owner, be wary of SEO firms offering free 30-day trials. Real, good SEO is about a long-term strategy that fits your business, not a one-size-fits-all quick solution.

Top Ranking within 48 hours

Getting to the top of search engine rankings quickly, like in 48 hours, just doesn’t happen in the world of organic SEO.

Real SEO involves a bunch of steps – like making your website better, creating good content, and building backlinks. These things take time to start affecting your rankings.

This kind of promise shows a big misunderstanding of how SEO works.

Search engines like Google need time to find (crawl), understand (index), and then rank your content. It’s a slow process that can’t be sped up to deliver instant results.

The only way to get to the top of search results super fast is through ads, like Google Ads.

This is Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising, where you pay to be at the top for certain keywords. But this is totally different from organic SEO, which is about earning your spot in search results over time.

Promises of super fast rankings might involve shady SEO tricks, known as black hat techniques. These can give you a quick boost, but they’re risky and can get your website penalized by Google in the long run.

Offer to remove negative reviews

Let’s talk about the scam where someone offers to remove negative reviews from your Google Business Profile or other online platforms.

If a review is genuine and follows Google’s rules, nobody can just delete it.

Real reviews, even the negative ones, are part of how Google gives honest information to people looking for it. They help make things clear and trustworthy.

The only time a review might get taken down is if it’s fake or it doesn’t follow Google’s guidelines. If that’s the case, a business can tell Google about it, and they might remove it. But this isn’t the same as just removing any negative review.

Online reviews are there to give an honest, outside view of a business. They’re really important for letting customers know what to expect based on other people’s experiences.

Google and other search engines work hard to keep customer reviews real and truthful. They want these reviews to really show what customers think and feel about a business.

Trying to get rid of real negative reviews isn’t just usually impossible, but it’s also not ethical. It goes against the whole idea of having honest reviews.

Plus, if people find out a business is doing this, it can really hurt their reputation.

Claiming To Do Everything Your Current Provider Is Doing At Less Price

Let’s break down why the offer of “doing everything your current SEO provider does but at a lower price” is often a scam.

They Don’t Know Everything Your Current Provider is Doing. It’s pretty unlikely that a new SEO company completely understands all the work your current provider is doing.

To say they can do the same or more for less money without really knowing all the details is pretty misleading.

SEO isn’t something you just do once and forget about. It’s a continuous process.

If you stop doing effective SEO, you might not see the impact immediately. The benefits of past SEO work can stick around for a bit.

But if the new, cheaper service isn’t actually maintaining or improving your SEO, eventually, your site’s performance could start to drop.

Over time, if the new, less expensive SEO provider isn’t doing a good job, you’ll probably see a decrease in your website traffic and growth. This is a sign that they’re not living up to their promises.

A cheap SEO service might use tactics that don’t really work or could even harm your website’s SEO in the long run. They might take shortcuts and not follow the best practices.

We Have Started the Work, Don’t Need Login Credentials

This scam involves SEO providers claiming to work on your website’s SEO without requiring access to your website’s backend.

Effective onsite SEO requires access to the website’s backend. This includes tasks like optimizing metadata, improving site structure, enhancing user experience, and creating or modifying content. Without access, it’s nearly impossible to perform these essential SEO tasks.

If an SEO provider doesn’t request login credentials or FTP access, it raises questions about the transparency and verifiability of their work.

Without access, you have no way to verify what, if any, work is being done on your website.

Common Traits of SEO Scams: The Red Flags to Check

Beware the Copy-and-Paste Email Pitch

So, you get this random email or a message in your website’s comment section from someone claiming to be an SEO expert. They say they’ve checked out your site and found all these issues, but they’re super vague about what those problems actually are. Then they make big promises, like shooting your website to the top of Google search results.

How to Spot These Scammy Pitches:

• Generic Messaging: A lot of genuine SEO experts do send personalized, well-thought-out emails, but they’re rare. Most of these pitches you’ll get are just spam sent to tons of businesses.
• No Specifics: These emails won’t mention your company name or website. It’s all generic.
• Shady Email Addresses: If they’re using a Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, or Outlook email, that’s a red flag. A legit SEO professional would use their company’s domain in their email address.
• Poor Presentation: Look out for bad grammar, spelling mistakes, and cringey subject lines.
• Lack of Research: There’s usually no real evidence they’ve looked into your site specifically.

Beware of Jack-of-All-Trades Companies

If you’re looking at a company that offers SEO services but doesn’t specialize in SEO, be cautious. Many of these firms might not have an expert in SEO and could be offering this service just to stay in the game. Remember, an all-rounder company probably won’t give you the same quality of SEO as a dedicated specialist.

Vague Pricing and No References – Red Flags

If a company is shady about their prices or can’t give you clear cost estimates tailored to your needs, that’s a warning sign. Also, a reputable agency should happily share references or a portfolio. No references? Then it’s probably not worth doing business with them.

Obsession with Search Engines, Not Business Growth

Your SEO company should focus on getting you more customers, not just boosting your Google rankings. If they only talk about search engines and ignore lead generation, that’s a bad sign. High rankings are great, but what you really need is more leads and sales.

Prioritizing Link Building Over Link Earning

Quality links from reputable websites are important because they build trust with Google. But beware of companies that focus on shady link-building tactics like buying links or excessive link exchanges. Google values natural, earned links more, and so should your SEO partner.

No Proof of Success? Steer Clear

Don’t take an SEO company’s promises at face value. Check if they have verifiable testimonials or case studies. It’s okay if some clients want to keep their data private, but there should be some who are open to sharing their success stories. No concrete proof means you should probably look elsewhere.

Poor Ranking of the SEO Company Itself

If an SEO company can’t make its own website rank well, how can you trust them to improve your ranking? Ask them about their own keyword rankings. A company that ranks well for competitive keywords is more likely to be effective for you too.

No Regular Reports? That’s a Problem

Your website is your business’s online face, so you have every right (and should want) to know what’s happening with it. Genuine SEO companies will keep you in the loop with regular updates on what they’re doing. Always ask for samples of their weekly or monthly SEO reports. If they can’t or won’t provide these, it’s a red flag.

Ignoring Page Speed – A Big No-No

Page speed might not be a direct ranking factor, but it’s super important for a good user experience. If your website is slow (like over 3 seconds slow), it’s not just annoying for visitors; it’s bad for business. Your SEO strategist should be working on making your site faster. If they’re not, you’re missing out.

Not Optimizing for Local Search

A Missed Opportunity: Most businesses depend on local customers. If your SEO company isn’t focusing on local search optimization, they’re not doing their job right. For example, if you run an HVAC company, you want locals to find you, not someone two states away. An SEO scam might overlook local search, which is crucial for most businesses.

Getting the Wrong Leads? Warning Sign

If the leads you’re getting are outside your service area or just not the right fit, that’s an issue. You might have been promised more leads, but it’s about quality, not just quantity. If most of your leads are unqualified or irrelevant, that’s a sign of poor SEO practice.

How To Avoid SEO Scammers

Avoiding SEO scammers requires a blend of skepticism, knowledge, and due diligence. Here’s a guide to help you navigate the SEO world safely:

• Educate Yourself on SEO Basics: Understanding the basics of SEO can be your first line of defense against scammers. Knowing what SEO involves (like keyword research, content optimization, link building) helps you evaluate the legitimacy of what an SEO service is offering.
• Be Wary of Unsolicited SEO Offers: Be cautious if you receive an unsolicited email or message about SEO services, especially if it’s vague or promises unrealistic results. Legitimate SEO companies typically don’t need to send spammy emails to acquire clients.
• Watch Out for Unrealistic Promises: If someone guarantees a #1 ranking on Google or immediate results, it’s a big red flag. SEO is an ongoing process and results take time.
• Check References and Past Work: A reputable SEO firm should be able to provide case studies or references. Look at their previous work and talk to past clients to gauge their effectiveness and professionalism.
• Avoid Anyone Who Won’t Explain Their Methods: Transparency is key in SEO. A trustworthy SEO professional should be able to explain what they will do and why. If they’re secretive about their tactics, it’s a bad sign.
• Understand That High Traffic Doesn’t Always Equal High Quality: Be skeptical of promises to dramatically increase your traffic. More traffic is good, but not if it’s untargeted or irrelevant to your business.
• Be Suspicious of Cheap Services: While you don’t need to pay exorbitant prices for quality SEO, be wary of deals that seem too good to be true. Proper SEO involves a lot of work and time, which isn’t typically cheap.
• Check Their Own SEO and Online Presence: Research the company offering SEO services. Look at their website, check their rankings, and see if they practice what they preach.
• Avoid Black Hat SEO Techniques: Be aware of black hat SEO techniques (like keyword stuffing, cloaking, buying links). These tactics can get your website penalized by search engines.
• Look for Tailored Strategies, Not One-Size-Fits-All: Each business is unique, and so should be its SEO strategy. Be cautious of companies that offer a one-size-fits-all approach.
• Ensure They Provide Regular Reporting: Regular, detailed reports are essential. They should include what’s been done, the results achieved, and the next steps. Lack of reporting is a red flag.
• Know That Local SEO Is Crucial for Most Businesses: If your business relies on local clientele, ensure that your SEO strategy includes local SEO tactics.
• Understand the Role of Content: Quality content is a key part of SEO. Be suspicious of SEO strategies that don’t include a content plan.
• Check Their Communication Style: The way a company communicates can tell you a lot. Are they responsive? Do they explain things clearly? Good communication is a sign of a professional business.
• Don’t Ignore Red Flags: If something feels off, don’t ignore it. Trust your instincts. If a company seems shady or too aggressive, it’s better to look elsewhere.
• Ask About Their Tools and Resources: Inquire about the tools and resources they use. This can give you an insight into their professionalism and how seriously they take their work.
• SEO Is Not Just About Search Engines: A good SEO strategy also focuses on user experience, website design, and quality content. It’s not just about appeasing search engines.
• Avoid Long-Term Contracts Initially: Be cautious about signing long-term contracts right away. Start with a shorter-term agreement to evaluate their services.

The Impact of SEO Scam on Businesses

The impact of falling victim to an SEO scam can be significant and multifaceted for businesses:

• Financial Losses: Perhaps the most immediate impact is financial. Businesses often invest considerable sums into SEO services, expecting a return in the form of increased online visibility and sales. When these services are fraudulent, this investment is wasted, directly affecting the company’s bottom line.
• Damaged Website Rankings: Utilizing black hat SEO techniques, often employed by scammers, can lead to severe penalties from search engines. This might result in a drastic drop in website rankings or, in extreme cases, complete deindexing from search results. Recovering from such penalties can be a lengthy and complex process.
• Reputation Damage: A business’s online reputation can suffer if unethical SEO practices are used. This might include being associated with spammy content or links, which can deter potential customers and harm the trustworthiness of the brand.
• Loss of Time and Resources: The time spent on implementing and then rectifying the damage caused by SEO scams is substantial. This is time and resource that could have been invested in legitimate growth strategies.
• Missed Opportunities: By focusing on quick, scammy SEO tactics, businesses miss out on the opportunity to build a sustainable, long-term SEO strategy that genuinely benefits their online presence.

Final Words

It’s important to approach SEO with a realistic mindset and a focus on sustainable growth. While it can be tempting to fall for promises of quick gains and high rankings, these are often signs of scams. Real SEO is about building a strong foundation for your website, creating valuable content, and engaging genuinely with your audience.

The best way to protect yourself from SEO scams is to educate yourself about SEO basics, be cautious of unsolicited offers, and choose SEO professionals who are transparent about their methods and realistic about outcomes. Remember, effective SEO is a long-term strategy that involves continuous effort and adjustment based on evolving search engine algorithms.

Always prioritize working with reputable SEO experts who use ethical practices, focus on your business growth, and maintain open communication. By doing so, you’ll not only avoid scams but also build a great online presence that truly benefits your business in the long run.