We all want instant gratification. There are some instances, however, when quick results are more of an oxymoron than a standard. One such instance is when it comes to search engine optimization, or, SEO. If you’re a business owner, you’ve likely received emails from “marketing” companies making lofty promises, such as getting you to the top spot in Google. But there’s a problem with SEO guarantees like these. In the reign of Google, there are no guarantees.
Recognizing the false promises.
You know the saying: if it looks too good to be true, it probably is. As a business owner, it’s not uncommon to receive spam emails from proclaimed SEO companies that attempt to reel you in with visions of search ranking grandeur. Look for phrases like this:
- “Secure the No. 1 spot on Google—guaranteed.”
- “We work closely with Google to earn high search rankings for our clients.”
- “I have been checking your search ranking regularly, and you are not in the top 10.”
- “You are not ranking for your top keywords, and you should be.”
- “We have a direct tie to Google.”
- “We are Google-certified to help you with your SEO.”
- “Bypass Google’s algorithm for search rankings.”
Look familiar? If it seems like spam, 99.9 percent of the time, it is spam—and with SEO guarantees, there’s no exception. Though it may seem like these emails are tailored specifically to your business, you are just one among thousands who will receive identical messaging.
There is no magic bullet.
The problem with SEO guarantees like these is that they are not realistic. Nobody has a direct link to Mr. and Mrs. Google. Nobody has the ability to bypass Google’s algorithm. That’s just simply not the way it works. In reality, there is no magic bullet to achieving SEO success, and anybody who tells you otherwise is either trying to take advantage of you or is misinformed.
Don’t let these ploys fool you. They exist to spark worry and alarm in an effort to get you to spend money on something that will ultimately prove fruitless.
So what can I do to improve my search ranking?
Just because there is no realistic instant guarantee of search ranking success does not mean the power is completely out of your hands. There are plenty of SEO best practices that can put you in a better position to rank highly in search results for your relevant keywords.
These small drops in the bucket can add up over time to help you become more visible in the wide world of the internet; however, it’s not something you can force. Google has the ultimate say-so for search results, and all that those on the outside can do is appeal to Google on as many levels as possible.
Keep in mind—the key here is time. SEO is a long game, and you have to be willing to dedicate the necessary time and effort to it in order to improve.
Summary
There’s a problem with SEO guarantees: they’re not credible. Beware of spam emails that make promises they can’t keep. SEO does not happen overnight; rather, it’s an ongoing process that requires multiple best practices put into place in order to see results.
If you don’t have the time to invest in SEO, that’s where we come in. We are happy to invest time on your behalf to put your business in a better position to be seen. All we need to do is start the conversation!
McNutt & Partners is a full-service advertising and digital marketing agency. Contact us today for your marketing needs! Call 334-521-1010, or visit our contact page.
