Beware of Fake SEO Services & Scams: How to Protect Your Small Business Online

Beware of Fake SEO Services & Scams: How to Protect Your Small Business Online

As a small business owner, it’s essential to know how to spot the fake and counterfeit services being sold as SEO. In this post, we’ll discuss some of the common scams and negative results that can happen. Plus, we’ll cover what whitehat SEO is and why it’s the only kind of SEO that will have lasting positive benefits for your business.

The Problem with Fake SEO Service and Scams

The Problem with Fake SEO Services and Scams

Unfortunately, the SEO industry is rife with scams and false promises. These scammers prey on small business owners who are trying to grow their businesses online. 

They promise quick and easy results, but in reality, they’re just taking your money and running. Some of the negative results you might experience from falling for an SEO scam include:

  • Wasted time and money
  • Damage to your website’s reputation
  • Decreased traffic and rankings
  • Possible penalties from search engines

What Does Real SEO Look Like

Now, let’s talk about what whitehat SEO is and why it’s the only kind of SEO that will have lasting positive benefits for your business. Whitehat SEO is the practice of optimizing your website and content for search engines using ethical and sustainable techniques. These techniques include things like:

  • Creating high-quality content that provides value to your audience
  • Building natural backlinks to your website from other reputable websites
  • Optimizing your website’s technical structure and on-page elements
  • Following search engine guidelines and best practices

By using whitehat SEO techniques, you’re investing in the long-term success of your business. You’re not just looking for a quick fix or shortcut to the top of the search engine rankings. Instead, you’re building a solid foundation that will help your website and content rank higher and attract more traffic over time.

Common Tactics of SEO Scammers

Common Tactics of SEO Scammers 

Let’s talk about some common features of fake SEO services sold by scammers. If you’re a small business owner looking to grow your online presence, it’s crucial to know what to watch out for when it comes to SEO scams. Here are a few common features to be aware of:

They Arrive via Cold Emails 

One of the most common ways scammers reach out to potential victims is through cold emails. These emails often promise quick and easy results, with no real explanation of how they plan to achieve them. They might use flashy language and bold claims to catch your attention, but be wary of any unsolicited emails promising overnight success.

Detailed and Scary looking Reports 

Another common feature of fake SEO services is the use of detailed and scary-looking reports. These reports might use technical jargon and complex graphics to make it seem like they’re doing a lot of work on your behalf. In reality, these reports are often just smoke and mirrors, designed to make it seem like the scammer is doing something useful.

Recurring Monthly Fees for Unnecessary Work 

Finally, be on the lookout for recurring monthly fees for unnecessary work. Scammers might try to convince you that you need to pay them every month to maintain your search engine rankings. However, in most cases, this is simply not true. Once your website is optimized using whitehat SEO techniques, you shouldn’t need to pay for ongoing maintenance.

So, how can you protect yourself from these common features of SEO scams? Here are a few tips:

  • Be wary of unsolicited emails promising overnight success
  • Look for transparency in any reports or work being done on your behalf
  • Don’t be afraid to ask questions and seek clarification on any fees or work being done
  • Work with reputable SEO agencies or consultants who use whitehat SEO techniques
Types of SEO Scams that You Should Be Aware Of

Types Of SEO Scams That You Should Be Aware Of 

As a small business owner, it’s essential to know what to watch out for when it comes to SEO scams. Here are a few common types of scams to keep an eye out for:

Promises of Guaranteed Rankings

One of the most common types of SEO scams is the promise of guaranteed rankings. Scammers might tell you that they have a special relationship with Google or that they know the secret to getting your website to the top of the search engine rankings. However, the truth is that no one can guarantee rankings, and any promise to do so is likely a scam.

Fake Google Lighthouse Reports

Another common type of SEO scam is the use of fake Google Lighthouse reports. Scammers might create fake reports that show your website needs a lot of work to rank higher in search engine results. These reports might include technical jargon and complex graphics to make it seem like they know what they’re doing. In reality, these reports are often just a scare tactic to get you to pay for unnecessary services.

Promises of Backlinks from Sites with High-DA

Scammers might also promise to get you backlinks from sites with high Domain Authority (DA). While backlinks from reputable sites can be valuable, it’s important to remember that not all backlinks are created equal. Backlinks from low-quality sites or spammy directories can actually hurt your search engine rankings.

Free Content

Another common scam is the promise of free content. Scammers might offer to write blog posts or articles for your website for free, but in reality, this content is often low-quality and stuffed with irrelevant keywords. This type of content can actually hurt your search engine rankings, rather than helping them.

Calls from Fake Google Employees 

Scammers might also call you, claiming to be Google employees. They might tell you that your website is not optimized for search engines and that you need to pay for their services. However, Google employees will never call you directly, and any call claiming to be from Google is likely a scam.

Fake Traffic

Finally, scammers might promise to send traffic to your website. However, this traffic is often fake, generated by bots or low-quality sources. This type of traffic won’t help your search engine rankings and can actually hurt them if it’s detected by search engines.

how can you protect yourself from these types of SEO scams

So, how can you protect yourself from these types of SEO scams? Here are a few tips:

  • Be wary of any promises of guaranteed rankings or quick results
  • Look for transparency in any reports or work being done on your behalf
  • Don’t be afraid to ask questions and seek clarification on any fees or work being done
  • Work with reputable SEO agencies or consultants who use whitehat SEO techniques
  • Don’t fall for free or low-quality content offers
  • Never give out sensitive information or pay for services over the phone

By staying vigilant and being aware of these types of SEO scams, you can protect yourself and your small business from falling victim to these scammers. Remember, investing in whitehat SEO techniques is the best way to ensure lasting positive benefits for your online presence. Don’t fall for the quick and easy promises of scammers – instead, invest in the long-term success of your business.

If you’re a small business owner looking to grow your online presence, it’s important to invest in whitehat SEO techniques that will have lasting positive benefits for your business. At Web Video Ad Space, we specialize in ethical and sustainable SEO practices that will help your website and content rank higher and attract more traffic over time.

Our team of experienced SEO professionals is dedicated to providing transparent and effective SEO services that will help you achieve your business goals. We believe in building long-term relationships with our clients and helping them achieve sustainable growth online.

So if you’re ready to take your online presence to the next level, we invite you to learn more about our whitehat SEO services at Web Video Ad Space. We’re here to help you navigate the complex world of SEO and achieve real results for your business. Contact us today to learn more!

How To Maximize Your Janitorial Company’s Growth With Google Ads

How To Maximize Your Janitorial Company’s Growth With Google Ads

Why Google Ads Is A Great Way To Grow Your Janitorial Company

If you’re in the business of cleaning up messes, there’s no better place to advertise your services than Google Ads. With over 3.5 billion searches per day, Google is the world’s most popular search engine, making it an ideal platform for reaching potential customers. And because you can target your ads specifically to people who are searching for janitorial services in your area, you can be sure that your ad will be seen by people who are actually in need of your services. Plus, with Google Ads, you only pay when someone clicks on your ad, so you’re only paying for results. So if you’re looking for a great way to grow your janitorial company, Google Ads is the way to go.

 

How to Plan a Google Ads Campaign for Your Janitorial Business

Google Ads can be a great way to reach new customers and grow your business. But where do you start? Planning a Google Ads campaign is easy, and there are a few simple steps you can follow to get started.

First, decide what you want to advertise. This can be anything from your latest product to a sale or promotion. Once you know what you want to promote, you can create your ad using the Google Ads interface. You’ll need to come up with a catchy headline and some compelling copy to persuade people to click on your ad.

Next, you’ll need to choose your target audience. You can target people by location, age, gender, interests, and more. Then, set your budget and choose how long you want your ad to run for. Finally, hit “publish” and your ad will be live!

With these easy steps, you’ll be well on your way to planning a successful Google Ads campaign for your janitorial business. So what are you waiting for? Get started today!

 

Tips For Optimizing Your Google Ads Campaign For Better Performance

If you’re serious about marketing your business online, then you can’t afford to neglect Google Ads. After all, Google is the largest and most popular search engine in the world, and a well-run Ads campaign can generate a significant number of leads for your business. Of course, running a successful Google Ads campaign is easier said than done. To help you get the most out of your Ads budget, here are a few tips to optimize your campaign for better performance:

1. Make sure you’re targeting the right keywords. One of the most common mistakes businesses make with their Google Ads campaigns is targeting the wrong keywords. As a result, their ads are shown to people who have no interest in what they’re selling. To avoid this mistake, take the time to research your target market and identify the keywords that are most likely to generate leads.

 

2. Create compelling ad copy. Once you’ve identified the right keywords, it’s time to create ads that will actually get clicked on. This means crafting headlines and descriptions that are both relevant and eye-catching. After all, you only have a limited amount of space to make an impression, so make sure your ad copy is up to the task.

3. Use negative keywords. In addition to targeting the right keywords, you also need to use negative keywords to filter out irrelevant searches. For example, if you sell women’s clothing, you would want to add “men” as a negative keyword so that your ad doesn’t show up when someone searches for “men’s clothing.”

4. Test different strategies. Finally, don’t be afraid to experiment with different strategies until you find what works best for your business. There is no one perfect way to run a Google Ads campaign, so try out different combinations of keywords and ad copy until you find a winning formula.

 

All in all, Google Ads is a great way to grow your business. If you’re not currently using it, now is the time to get started. By following our tips for setting up and optimizing your campaign, you can expect to see improved results and more leads coming in from Google. Ready to give it a try? Contact us today and we’ll get started on creating an effective Google Ads campaign for your janitorial company. Thanks for reading!

How to Get More Sales With Your Existing Website in 2021

How to Get More Sales With Your Existing Website in 2021

The Problem with Websites

Have you ever spent time and money to build a website only to be disappointed when almost nothing changes?

In the end, there is no increase in the number of leads, prospects, and new customers coming into the business.

Often business owners are left with a website they like ok, but it fails to contribute to their bottom line.

Wasn’t the new website supposed to attract potential clients?

What happened?

There’s a straightforward reason this happens, but before we look at the reason, let’s look at the problem from the other side…

The Bragging Owner

Have you ever seen a business that seems to be bringing in a steady flow of new customers from their ugly website?

The owner brags, “oh yeah, we’re getting a lot of new business from the internet.”

The story of the ugly but productive website is not uncommon, especially if you hang out with other business owners.

There are businesses in nearly every industry with substandard online branding that consistently generate online leads, sales, and customers.

How is it possible? How can a business be successful with online sales and marketing with an inferior web presence?

It’s simple. It’s WEBSITE PROMOTION!

Even an ugly website that offers the right thing to the right person at the right time will make sales.

The Law of Averages from traditional sales training says out of a large number of prospects there is always a small percentage who have an immediate need.

You need to reach many prospective customers to get the sales of the few serious customers. 

An online promotion causes a large number of prospects to visit your site.

This large number allows for The Law of Averages to kick in, resulting in sales for your business.

If the way you describe your offer is not good or the audience is not full of prospective customers, the marketing is unlikely to succeed.

BUT if your target audience NEVER even gets your message in the first place, then your marketing is guaranteed to FAIL.

So how do you promote your website in 2021?

THE TWO KINDS OF WEBSITE PROMOTION

There are thousands of options to choose from when it comes to online or digital marketing tools and tactics.

I’ll break down the website promotion process into organic campaigns and paid campaigns.

I will also use the terms promotion and campaign interchangeably.

A campaign is just an organized plan to promote a specific product or service.

WHAT IS ORGANIC WEBSITE PROMOTION?

Organic promotion refers to online marketing activities used to promote a website that does not require direct or continuous payments to online media channels like Google, Facebook, Linkedin, etc.

Some of the most popular organic promotions include:

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) – This is the process of getting your website to the top of organic search results at the search engines like Google and Bing.

Local Search Engine Optimization – This is the process of getting your website listed in the map listings of major search engines like Google and Bing.

Social Media Marketing – This is building a following by sharing content and actively engaging with various audiences on social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, or YouTube.

Public Relations – This is the process of engaging local media outlets to gain attention for marketing-focused stories.

WHAT IS PAID WEBSITE PROMOTION?

Paid promotion is pretty straightforward. You pay an online channel like Google, Facebook, or Linkedin to place an advertisement. Usually, the ads look like the organic media surrounding them. In other words, search ads look like search results, and social media ads look like social media posts.

Some of the most popular paid promotions include:

Search Advertising – You pay the search engine company (most commonly Google) to place sponsored search results above and below the natural search results to any search term. These listings are usually more robust (include more information) than a standard search result listing. You choose the website page the visitor lands on when they follow the link.

Social Media Advertising – You pay the social media company (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, YouTube, etc.) to place media (text, images, or video) in their feeds to pre-selected audience segments.

Paid Influencer Placement – If you’re lucky enough to have an influencer in your market who is available for sponsorship in return for sharing your content with their followers, this can be a powerful marketing strategy.

GET BACK TO BASICS

A great website that no one visits will not produce results.

On the other hand, a mediocre website with a constant flow of targeted visitors will produce some leads, prospects, and sales.

You SHOULD have beautiful and impactful branding.

You SHOULD have a well-organized website that is easy to read and understand.

However, you MUST PROMOTE anything you want your target audience to consume… including your website.

 

7 Ways a Local Business Can Dominate Google

7 Ways a Local Business Can Dominate Google

Local businesses understand the need for a prominent position on Google. Many business owners, though, don’t always understand how crucial to long-term success search engine visibility really is.

The Mobile Movement Study found that 77% of mobile users contacted a local business after conducting a local search.

BrightLocal also reported that 98% of web searchers visit a site featured on the first page, with very few people even bothering to move onto secondary pages.

If your business is reliant on web traffic, it is clearly important to focus on SEO. However, trying to get your website ranked is only the start if you are ambitious.

Local search rankings offer the chance for businesses to seize the initiative and take multiple spots on the first page.

Google doesn’t just rank individual websites but instead likes to offer a variety of options to users. Each of the following platforms can be used to get extra listings, potentially leading to a domination of the search real estate for your favored keywords.

1. Main Website

Ideally, your main website will achieve the top position. Most of the following platforms allow you to link towards your main site, so you should naturally generate authority.

For local terms, gaining citations can be enough to rank, with local directories, forums, and blogs linking to you.

If you are struggling to rank, search for powerful authority sites in your locality and niche, then look for content syndication opportunities with guest posts.

2. YouTube Video

Google naturally likes videos featured on their own platform. Most local businesses, though, don’t produce video content, so don’t realize how easy it can be to rank.

When creating the content, ensure you use keywords within the title and include a detailed description. With some backlinks and embeds, you can quickly see your video ranking.

3. Industry Directory

There are many directories online, but some will be harder to rank than others. Specialist industry directories can rank well, but check to see if they already feature on one of the first few pages before you attempt to promote them.

Choosing a powerful site means the domain already has authority, so you may only need a small amount of promotion to rank your own page.

4. Google Local Pack

The number of sites featured in the Google Local Pack has gradually been reduced, but that does mean you will stand out more if you can be included.

Getting listed involves joining Google My Business, completing your profile in detail, getting clients to leave reviews, and getting citations with your full address details included.

A local listing can feature your site name, map listing, images, and street view, so it is good for branding and click-through rate.

5. Google Images

For many niches, images are featured on the main Google results page. Images naturally stand out, increasing the chances of searchers clicking further.

To raise the prospects of your images being shown, use alt tags with keywords, ensuring the image is correctly labeled.

Also, add geotagging information to the metadata, so the image is recognized as a local term.

6. News Reports

Press releases and news reports can often feature in the search results, particularly if the news has a broader context.

It might not always be possible to target a relevant news story, but getting alerts on keywords and industry news should flag opportunities for creating news stories.

It is also possible to become a featured writer for an established site, whether this is industry-related or a larger site like The Huffington Post.

7. Paid Advertising

Finally, you can secure a prime position by paying for Google advertising. Of course, you need to make the ad cost work by carefully tracking your spending, but local advertising will usually be far cheaper than broad search terms.

It is important to track and test your results, calculating how much it is costing to find leads and make sales.

Depending on the competitiveness of the search term, it is possible for a local business to have multiple listings on a page.

The first few listings receive the bulk of the traffic, with numbers falling as you move down the page. If you can rank a few sites, you should receive most of the traffic while heavily branding your business as the major authority.

There is a lot of potential to be found in local search, so there is no reason you shouldn’t make an ambitious plan for a strong Google presence.

Front Porch Metaphor for Social Media Marketing

Front Porch Metaphor for Social Media Marketing

I got into Facebook advertising by way of Google SEO and AdWords.

I learned AdWords from Perry Marshall.

Therefore when I decided to learn Facebook Advertising, I liked him so much, I picked up his book on the subject.

His book mentioned this metaphor, called the front porch metaphor.

Since first reading about it, it’s always been my go-to metaphor for for social selling.

Everything Old is New Again

Maybe it’s also because I grew up in an older neighborhood with hundred-year-old homes.

Those old homes had front porches and I remember sitting in front of my grandparents house on the front porch in the evening.

My grandparents would interact with their neighbors as they walked by.

As they were sitting there talking to us kids and having a conversation among themselves, when a neighbor came by, they would wave.

If they were little friendlier they would chit chat about something going on in the neighborhood or the weather.

Then every once in awhile there was a particularly friendly person and that person would come up and join the conversation on the front porch.

That’s the whole concept right there!

Social Media is the Front Porch for Your Business

You imagine that there’s a front porch in front of your business and there are people out there conversing in plain sight of the people walking past.

As the passers by get curious about what’s going on, they realize that it’s about something that they’re interested in.

Eventually, the ones that are going to be interested are drawn up onto the front porch to engage and interact.

This is all to the benefit of your business.

Obviously on Facebook there’s nobody walking past our business, instead our post moves past as they scroll through their Newsfeed.

Our front porch for the day whizzes past in the form of a post. And if that post is engaging, which means that it’s funny, helpful, inspirational, or invokes some emotion, it makes them stop.

Maybe they hit the like button, the equivalent to a friendly wave.

Maybe they leave a comment, the equivalent to a little chat.

But maybe they get into a conversation with either the business owner or with other people conversing in the comments on the post.

This is an uncommon thing on pages that are not run very well.

But on well run pages, it’s a common thing.

Moreover, they share that post, the equivalent of inviting their friends to join the party on the front porch.

That’s what we want. That’s the opportunity that exists on Facebook.

There’s Nothing New About Social Selling

There are businesses today that still use social selling offline.

Think about barber shops, salons, bars, coffee shops, or restaurants.

These are all places that encourage socializing at their establishment for the benefit of the establishment.

If you like to B.S. with the guys down at the barbershop, you’re going to get your haircut more often because it’s fun! It’s an experience that you enjoy

It’s the same tactic employed in the old days by a General Store.

The General Stores literally had a front porches in front of the store.

They will put benches and chairs. They would actively encourage people to be out there socializing.

But while socializing, patrons are seeing that there’s a special on on this type of drink or a special on some item in the store.

Then they maybe they buy a drink because they’re out there talking.

It makes it an easy excuse to go to the store because you know that there’s something interesting happening down there.

This is exactly the opportunity nearly every business has with on Facebook.

So keep this metaphor in mind in regards to everything you do on Facebook.

What Not To Do

From this point of view, you can see where the worst thing you can do is to do a hard sale from your Facebook page.

There are other places in Facebook to make offers. Namely, advertising.

The great thing is when you get ready to make a direct offer you can choose to deliver it to people with whom you’ve already built up a relationship.

On your page you’re going to stay funny, engaging, and socializing.

You’re not going to stand up on your porch with the big bull horn and yell at the people in the street to come up.

It’s just not the right place for it.

That’s my take on the metaphor.

If you want to chat with other marketers who embrace this approach, join us at the Front Porch Marketing Club, a private group on Facebook.

If you’d like to see how to execute a Facebook advertising campaign that will grow your business and make you the celebrity in the area, learn more about my Local Social Ads course.

Vertical or Horizontal Video – Which Do You Prefer

Vertical or Horizontal Video – Which Do You Prefer

Horizontal or Vertical?

How do you like your video?

I bet it depends on what kind of screen you’re watching it on, right?

When it comes to the FB or IG news feeds a horizontal video looks like a narrow bar moving up and down the screen. To get a good view, you’ve got to maximize it and turn your screen.

People may do this on a video they REALLY want to watch, but they are unlikely to do this for an ad.

That’s why we format our video ads, like the one below for Sweet Tooth Candy Buffets, to maximize the screen space of the media channel.

Don’t accept a video ad format that is less than optimal for the distribution you are paying for!

Need help with your next digital marketing project? Let us help!

Just click the Request a Proposal button below and schedule a time to discuss your business.