98: How to spot bullsh*t SEO

Summary

In this episode, Meredith's husband discusses how to spot misleading SEO services that offer guaranteed, effortless results, particularly AI-generated content solutions. He outlines the common red flags, such as promises of instant success, lack of credentials, and pushy marketing tactics. Website owners can use these insights to avoid scams and better understand which SEO tasks can be effectively outsourced, like technical SEO and local listings.

How to Spot and Avoid Misleading SEO Services

In today’s world of digital marketing, SEO is essential for improving your website’s visibility. However, with the rise of quick-fix solutions and AI-generated content, website owners are frequently bombarded with promises of guaranteed results that often fall short. As enticing as these offers may sound, it’s critical to recognize the red flags before committing to services that may harm your website’s long-term growth.

Here’s how you can identify and avoid misleading SEO services while understanding which aspects of SEO can be safely outsourced.

Red Flags in Misleading SEO Services

SEO can seem overwhelming, which is why many businesses are tempted by offers that claim to make the process simple and automatic. However, these offers often come with false promises. Here are some of the biggest red flags:

1. Guarantees of Page One Rankings:

   • No legitimate SEO expert can guarantee that your site will rank on the first page of Google. Rankings depend on multiple factors, including competition, content quality, and Google's evolving algorithms. Be skeptical of services that promise guaranteed rankings.

2. Instant Results:

   • Effective SEO takes time. Any service promising overnight success is likely using shortcuts, such as black hat SEO techniques, that could result in penalties from search engines. These tactics may work temporarily, but your site’s rankings could plummet once Google catches on.

3. Lack of Credentials:

   • SEO providers without verifiable credentials, case studies, or client reviews should be approached with caution. Check for certifications, a clear portfolio, and LinkedIn profiles to ensure the provider has a track record of delivering results.

4. Over-the-Top Marketing Tactics:

   • Beware of SEO services that rely on aggressive or unsolicited marketing, such as cold emails or flashy ads. If you didn’t seek out the provider but they found you, it’s a sign that they may be prioritizing sales volume over quality service.

SEO Tasks You Can Outsource

While not all SEO can be effectively outsourced, there are several areas where outsourcing makes sense and can save you time:

• Technical SEO:

  • Tasks such as improving page speed, fixing broken links, and ensuring mobile-friendliness can be handled by experts without requiring your direct involvement. These elements are essential to the technical health of your site, and outsourcing them can free you up to focus on other areas of your business.

• Local Listings:

  • Optimizing your Google My Business profile and other local citations is critical for businesses targeting specific geographic areas. Tools like WhiteSpark can help automate this process, and outsourcing ensures your business details are consistent across platforms.

• Content Editing and Optimization:

  • While you should have control over your content’s voice and message, certain SEO optimizations like keyword placement, meta descriptions, and internal linking can be outsourced to experts who specialize in these areas.

The DIY Approach to Core SEO

While outsourcing can be beneficial, certain aspects of SEO require your personal touch. For instance, creating authentic, high-quality content that reflects your brand’s voice is not something that can be fully automated or outsourced. Maintaining creative control over your blog posts, product descriptions, and other forms of content will ensure your website remains unique and trustworthy.

Resources

Meredith’s husband offers an SEO Roadmap to help guide you through the SEO process in a logical, step-by-step manner. This resource will save you time and help you understand which tasks to prioritize for your website's success.