What kind of SEO company will you find in this alley?
Orlando Business Owners are taken advantage of by “Back Alley” SEO companies all too frequently and this is very unfortunate. Web, Advertising Directories and SEO Companies often with a less than stellar reputation are causing serious economic damage to hard-working small businesses through shady business tactics. The playing field is not level and these companies will use their knowledge of the web to gain control of your website and your pocketbook. Following is my list of recommendations to level the playing field and protect yourself from unscrupulous companies.
Recommendations for avoiding “Back Alley” SEO
- Research your potential web vendors thoroughly. Don’t rely on online reviews because they can be false . Check with their customers which you find from your own online searches, not from their approved client list. Try Googling their company name and see who comes up. Also do a “whois” search of their domain and see who is the registered owner, then do a Google search using that owners name. If you find many instances of client dissatisfaction or fraud, you should not do business with them.
- Always, Always and I mean Always, be the registrant for your domain name and have administrative rights to your website. Way too many domain names are held for ransom by web companies for various reasons. The only way you can be the master of your domain is by being the official registrant in the Whois directory. Likewise, insist on having administrative rights to website. Should you want to fire your web company, you will need to log in to your Admin and delete their access.
- Avoid Contracts and Automatic Billing. Should you become dissatisfied or experience cash flow problems you may need to pause your marketing efforts. If you can be held to a contract or your credit card is being debited every month, this becomes more difficult. Month to Month or performance agreements are much more favorable. It’s your cash flow versus your SEO companies cash flow. Whose would you want to protect?
- Stay local if you can. Local companies may care about their reputation in the local community more than a national company. Also, seeking redress in the judicial system will be easier with both parties being local.
- Avoid companies which make unrealistic promises. SEO is difficult and takes time. Companies that promise instant results are almost always doing something shady which opens you up for a Google penalty or worse. SEO is like building a reputation. It takes long and consistent effort to achieve longlasting results.
Following these steps will allow you to sidestep most of the shady characters out there selling “snake oil” SEO to unsuspecting businesses. By utilizing quality local companies for your SEO and allowing them the time to get results, using best practices will add long term value to your website and business. Should you need additional help or guidance in this area, do not hesitate to call us at ( 321) 230-3197. We support our Orlando businesses and try our best to keep our industry clean.
