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

by | 3. Marketing Media, Local SEO

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!

7 Ways a Local Business Can Dominate Google

7 Ways a Local Business Can Dominate Google

by | Local SEO

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.