When to Walk Away from a
Prospective SEO Company

The key to a successful SEO partnership lies in knowing what to look out for in a prospective SEO company – or perhaps more importantly what to avoid like the plague. The trouble is, many businesses find themselves blindsided by the outlandish promises made by certain SEO firms that they fail to see some of the most obvious tell-tale danger signs which should be right prompt a swift exit.

SEO is a fickle mistress, to say the least, and can pack a wallop at both ends of the spectrum, but keeping a cool head before you even get your strategy underway can determine the outcome in its entirety.

So in order to help out those just getting started or looking to switch providers, here’s a look at some of the signs that tell you it’s time to walk away from an SEO company and try your luck elsewhere:

First comes the biggest red flag of all to watch out for – promises of fame, fortune, and all the power of God practically overnight. Spend a seven-figure sum on a long-term SEO strategy and you might reach dizzying heights eventually, but no amount of money on Earth can make SEO work to its full potential without giving it time to mature…it’s just the way SEO works. As such, you can forget about those promises of overnight glory for an all-in price of 2,000 pesos (roughly $49.95)…it ain’t gonna happen!

When you’re looking to do business with an SEO company, it has to be for the long term given the nature of the process. So like any long term agreement in business, you should expect to pay little to nothing up-front and subsequently pay installments as things progress. So, if ever you find yourself being asked for the bulk of the money up-front or a payment plan you aren’t totally won over by, chances are they’re trying to get their hands on your cash before you have a chance to realize you shouldn’t have bothered with them.

Speaking of cash, it’s important to maintain perspective. Sure you don’t have to spend $6 million to get your name noticed with SEO, but at the same time, you can’t expect your business to be transformed for a package costing $29.99 all-in. Real, organic SEO takes time, effort, and plenty of skill – none of which come free of charge, so don’t expect a free ride. And if you’re offered one, don’t take it!

If the plucky salesman presents you with one of those “One time only” offers that you have to take right this second or lose the deal forever, tell him to shove it. Seriously – this is one industry where the hard-sell has no place anymore and you should be encouraged to take your time, compare the options on offer and come to your own decision. That is of course unless the provider in question doesn’t want you to see how much better-off you’d be elsewhere.