There are many types of SEO firms out there, and not all of them are good for business.
SEO is a complicated strategy, so it’s no wonder why SEO firms are such a popular option; armed with years of expertise and professional staff in multiple areas to execute the work, SEO firms typically justify their own costs and spare you tons of headaches. However, some types of SEO agencies are clearly better than others, and there are three common types of firms you’ll want to avoid at all costs:
- The outsourcers. First up, there are the outsources. These are firms who take your money and use a fraction of it to spend on cheap labor, usually overseas. They’ll employ non-native English speakers to write your content and amateurs to build your links. Eventually, this lack of quality will catch up to your campaign, and you certainly won’t get the services you paid for.
- The get-rich-quick schemers. Get-rich-quick schemers are all about earning you results as fast as possible—no matter what it takes. They’ll frequently make bold promises, such as claiming to have you at a number one position in a week or two, and will cut corners to make it happen. They write fluff content and build spammy links, so watch out for them and avoid them at all costs.
- The one-size-fits-all approachers. These practitioners aren’t as risky as the others, but they still won’t do much good for your campaign. Rather than tailoring a strategy to your brand, they have package deals they’ll use to sell you on their services. Straight packages aren’t necessarily bad—but if they’re too strictly adhered to or if your individual brand isn’t taken into consideration, your campaign could suffer.
You may see elements of these strategies in any firm—for example, every agency in the world will want to get you results quickly—but be wary of when an agency crosses the line. Take your time deciding which agency is best for you, and do your homework so you don’t end up with the wrong partner.
