10 Red Flags Your SEO Company Is a Scam

10 Red Flags Your SEO Company Is a Scam

The Final Code

An SEO scam rarely looks like a scam. It looks like a confident salesperson, a monthly invoice and a report full of charts. You trusted a company to put your business on the map, your site is still invisible, and the phone isn’t ringing. We are an SEO company in Ventura County, and we have seen what these companies leave behind. These are the warning signs, so you can catch them before you sign, not a year after.

Google says it plainly in its own advice on hiring an SEO.

Be careful if a company is secretive or won't clearly explain what they intend to do. Google Search Central, Do you need an SEO?

Every flag below is some version of that.

The 10 red flags of a bad SEO company

  1. They guarantee you'll be number one "We guarantee page one in 30 days." Nobody controls Google's results, so nobody can promise a position. The same goes for a guaranteed number of visitors. Rankings are earned over months of steady work, and anyone selling a shortcut is selling pixie dust.
  2. Their reports say nothing "Traffic is up 10% this month!" Up from where, on what searches, and did it bring a single call? A real report shows which target terms moved, where you rank for each one, and what organic visitors did when they arrived. If they can't tell you what improved and why, you're paying for charts.
  3. They can't name your target terms "We're optimizing for your whole category." Ask for the list of searches they're going after. Real SEO starts with the actual words your buyers type, ranked by priority, and who is winning each one today. No list means no plan.
  4. "We only do SEO for unicorns" "We only work with businesses exactly like yours." Shame on anyone who believes that alone makes them better. If you sell unicorns, you think, "These guys must be the best at unicorns." But those guys live in one tiny bubble. They have the same competitors all the time, they don't know how to duck, and they aren't ready for battle on other fronts. We think they're narrow-minded, with a narrow set of tools. They've got three things.
  5. "Our AI does everything, you don't have to" "Thank God, the AI is going to do everything. You won't have to do a thing." All this talk about AI SEO makes it sound like you can stop thinking about it and it'll all work out fine. It won't. AI can help write and organize. It can't tell the world your story, prove your results, or care whether you get the job. Anything that promises you'll never have to take your marketing seriously again is the red flag.
  6. They're really a lead seller "We'll get you on top of Google for your service." Some of the "companies" ranking for your service aren't local businesses at all. They're websites built by marketers to catch your customers and sell the leads back to you. More on that below, because it's the one most owners never notice.
  7. Nothing new ever appears on your site "We're working on it behind the scenes." Real SEO leaves evidence: new pages, new posts, fixed errors, real links from other sites. If your website looks exactly the way it did a year ago, nothing happened. Ask them to show you what they published and when.
  8. They ignore your website's health "Your site is fine, let's focus on keywords." A slow site, broken links or a page that's a mess on a phone will sink everything else. Any SEO company worth hiring checks the technical side first. If they don't know how, that's a web development problem nobody is fixing.
  9. The billing is murky "It's all included in the package." Included how? You should see, line by line, what you get each month and what costs extra. Watch for charges for things that don't exist, or things you never asked for.
  10. They lock you in and then go quiet "It's a 12-month minimum. SEO takes time." SEO does take time, but a company confident in its work doesn't need to trap you. Be wary of a long contract before a single result, especially if they're hard to reach once you've signed. Ask what happens if nothing moves, and whether you can leave if they don't deliver.
Wondering if your SEO company is on this list? Get My Free Visibility Report

The "SEO company" that's really a lead seller

Search for plumbers near me in Oxnard and read the page slowly. Here’s the kind of thing you find.

Yelp and Thumbtack are lead generators. They made a list, and they charge you for everything on it.

Then there’s the result that looks like a local plumber. Look closer and it’s just some SEO website. Who made it? A web design company. Is that company actually in Oxnard or Ventura? Often it isn’t. Look around and you’d find a hundred of these sites claiming to do the same service. They’re not even really here, and they’re ranking above the real plumbers. Why? Because the real plumbers aren’t doing something.

These sites are just there to scavenge your business. If they’re not a plumbing company, they’re going to sell the lead to you. And if an “SEO company” pitches you on getting to the top of results like these, ask whether they’re building your business’s presence, or theirs.

Yelp and Thumbtack are real. The other two listings are stand-ins, but the pattern is real.

Who gets fooled, and how not to be

We’ve seen it plenty of times. People put their boat in the digital ocean with no rudder, no compass and no steering wheel, and expect to float to the great land of wealth. Then they curse out their web guy, curse out the internet, curse out WordPress. It’s got to be somebody else’s fault. “I hate my competitor. He’s there and I’m not.”

It’s like your competitor is swimming and you’re drowning, and you need somebody to swim for you. You could have just taken swim lessons.

You don’t have to become an SEO expert. You do need to know enough to ask for the list of target terms, read a report, and notice when nothing has changed on your own website. If you’re interviewing a new company, bring our 10 questions to ask before you hire an SEO company. And for a closer look at the scam side of the industry, read how to spot BSEO before it costs you.

Not sure whether you're getting real SEO? We'll show you.

Send us your site. We will show you the terms you should be ranking for, where you actually rank today, and what your current provider has and hasn't done. No charge, and no obligation. Or call or text 805.243.8321.

Get My Free Visibility Report

A good SEO company is happy to be measured. It shows you the list, the work and the results, and it explains everything in plain English. That’s what real search engine optimization looks like, and anything less is a red flag.

What clients say about working with us.

Word for word. Read them all on Google

  • We are very pleased with the website that the team at the Final Code created for us and with the training they provided on how to control our site. Our customers are also impressed with our site and comment on how good it looks.
    Kaylor Painting Google review, Jul 9, 2016
  • I started my business about 6 months ago and couldn't get my key words anywhere in search engines after burning through a few hundred dollars trying google adwords with no results I went to the Final Code. Now I am on page one or two of every category I am attempting and moving up all of they time. Larry and his crew teach you what you need to maintain a competitive web site that brings results. They are fun to work with. You could spend thousands on an outside company to optimize your website of a fraction of that with Final Code and learn how to do it yourself. Highly recommend them
    Nancy Barna Google review
  • This company saved my sanity! I was looking for a company that allowed me to have the freedom to do what I needed/wanted to do with my website and also offer excellent customer service. I struck gold! The Final Code team is super supportive. They never leave me hanging if I have questions or need assistance. Their software allows me complete control of our site. It has made having a website fun again! I would highly recommend them!
    Channel Islands Sportfishing Google review
  • Several web companies have created and hosted my website over the last 20 years. Never before have I received the service, support, and training that The Final Code provides. They respond immediately to my needs and sincerely want me to succeed. The Final Code has designed my site so that I have access to all my pages. I am able to make immediate changes to the text and images, whenever I desire. I love playing with my beautiful website and I love the Final Code for making it possible!!! PS I am grateful for the great response to my site from new clients. People are finally finding me because of The Final Code's SEO.
    Nomi Wagner Google review, Jun 29, 2016
  • Everyone at The Final Code has been so helpful .. Larry is always just a phone call away. Not being very computer savvy I am always relieved that Larry is willing and able to make the changes and additions to my website keeping all of my Surfcat Cafe & Adoptions followers up to date. As a nonprofit we were very grateful that they were understanding about our financial situation and were very reasonably priced. Thanks Final Code!! Leslie Weiss Surfcat Cafe & Adoptions
    Leslie Weiss Google review, Jun 17, 2016
  • In our line of work we get SEO/Web Marketing calls all day and to say the least my least favorite of calls. However We have been working with the Final Code for Almost 2 years now and they are top notch in customer service and know exactly what they are doing. My SEO Stats prior to the final code i thought was impressive for a small company of our nature, however after the final code.. WOW. My numbers have almost tripled this year alone and the business reflects those numbers. The team at the final code is top notch and extremely friendly. With their web code program i can go in and create, edit and screw up any page of my website in a flash (not recommended!) and the best part is these guys are always right on the button to fix my mistakes same day. We have had a great working relationship and if you truly want Free Google Placing, SEO tracking and of course local 805 business they are the guys to contact. We highly recommend them!
    Channel Islands Helicopters Google review
  • Working with Larry and the rest of The Final Code team has been fantastic! We originally had our website built by an independent web developer and it was a nightmare dragging on for months. It got to the point where we fired the guy and started looking for a professional web development company to finish the project. We found The Final Code and from the very beginning the process went so smoothly and the website was up and running in just weeks! I’ve worked for and with other web development agencies before and by far The Final Code has exceeded all my expectations – very professional, quick turnaround times, and Larry was beyond knowledgeable on building the best website to attract the most traffic. The best part was how the website was built so I can maintain it myself and Larry is there to teach me all that I need to know. I highly recommend The Final Code for all your website needs!
    Macy Homes Google review, Jul 2, 2016
  • These guys are great! I have 5 million questions and they are quick to help. Check them out!
    Molly Carroll Google review, Feb 19, 2016
  • I was referred to The Final Code by a support person at Xero Accounting, an online accounting app I use and support for clients. I had a website up and running for over 2 years, and knew that little or no search traffic was driven to the site, datapro.la. I spoke first to Larry Murphy, and then with Carlo Godoy and James Nisky. They spent a good deal of time with me, going over what they offer, and after takig a look at my existing site, made some recommendations. I am quite computer-literate, but website-dumb. They were patient with me, explaining until I had a good preliminary understanding. Feeling that I was in good hands, I decided to move forward with them redoing, and educating me on how to redo what I could to the website. A great decision on my part, as this group has come through for me in a spectacular fashion. Although not complete, as ongoing tweaking by me, with their assistance, to optimize content, add blog material, etc., datapro.la has a much more professional look and feel, and more importantly, has added what it takes to drive traffic to the website. I cannot fully describe how very happy, and confident, I am dealing with this group. I know they have my back, and are very responsive to questions and requests. Stupid cliche, buy you are in good hands with The Final Code. It is a great feeling to know this is true.
    David Goldstein Google review
  • Everyone at The Final Code has been fantastic. I own a small beekeeping company. Almost all of my business comes from people google searching beekeepers, due to the nature of the trade. Initially I hired a company for $1200 who promised they could get me to the top of google. It was one guy working out of a library. He claimed it would be easy. I needed the work done in six months. He informed me that his method was a secret, and that he used hidden back links to boost my website. Eight months and $1200 later I was congratulated on reaching the fifth page on google, and the first page on bing. Not only was I out the $1200, but I also lost a year of revenue. I started taking work from my biggest competitors to get by since my phone was not ringing. They were getting all of the business in the area since my SEO guy failed. They were receiving twenty to fifty calls per day. I was lucky to even get one. In a final desperate move I asked The Final Code for help. The Final Code was very different than the previous company. I walked into their office. They offered no secret back links, no empty promises. They laid out everything they were going to do, and everything I had to do to improve my results. Within two months I had several key words on not only the front page of google, but a few of them were the top search result, and they had reports which allowed me to see all the key words I need to improve upon to continue growing. The difference in my business has been incredible. I went from nearly going bankrupt in December to hiring my first employee in June, and I am completely overwhelmed with business. The Final Code saved my business. I really can't thank them enough. To top it all off Larry and Amber have been a genuine pleasure to work with. I can't recommend them enough.
    Bryan Castro Google review, Jun 30, 2016
  • The Final Code was very patient in trying to fulfill all my requests. Carlo worked with me to set up my website for my tax preparation business and he also provided a good training session to manage my website. I feel confident in using my website and I know I can come to ask Carlo if I have any questions.
    Luis Huapaya Google review
  • My wife and I operate a company in Ventura County which provides assorted janitorial and commercial cleaning services. We contacted The Final Code because we had several existing websites and various online listings ran by several different people. Our online presence was a mess and were paying a web company for services we couldn't necessarily verify, we couldn't manage our own website if we wanted, we weren't sure if people were visiting our site and it wasn't a great feeling. We met with The Final Code to help us tie up all of those loose ends, built a new website for our company to attract more users to help generate more business. Thankfully, The Final Code was understanding and was able to work within our budget. We now have these issues resolved and the new site is climbing the Google rankings weekly and is now a page one on several main search terms. We received a lot of of valuable advice on SEO, search engine optimization, and they continue to work with us to progress upward in our online presence. I appreciate that The Final Code staff has been so patient and they are always available whenever we have questions or concerns. They have also trained us on how to update and edit our site so that we are free to make changes when necessary. One of the best parts of working with them is that I'm able to walk into their office and know I will be taken care of. This year The Final Code is building several new websites for separate organizations of ours and we're excited to continue collaborating with The Final Code! Thanks everybody for making our company online presence successful and helping to increase business
    Ken Duff Google review
  • Through my experience, web marketing companies are like used car salesmen... Thousands to choose from, difficult to trust, and are filled with empty promises. The Final Code is exactly the OPPOSITE! Larry, James, and Carlo are always fantastic to work with and know their business inside and out. From SEO to web marketing tactics, I trust them completely with the online presence of my company. They take their time to personally make sure that I am happy with their service and provide REAL statistics (not just Google analytics) behind any changes made to our site They provide valuable insight and ideas on how to grow your online presence and then can execute those ideas immediately (or train you on how to make changes yourself)!. The interface that accompanies their service is easy to use and gives you access to change / update anything that you would ever want to. I highly recommend The Final Code for any of your SEO / Web Marketing needs.
    Justin Engelbach Google review
  • Larry and the team at The Final Code in Ventura literally breathed life back into my business. At the time I hired The Final Code, I had invested thousands of dollars in ongoing website “optimization” with another company. Despite that effort, my law office website was nowhere to be found when it came to the core of my practice – potential clients searching for either criminal defense attorneys or DUI attorneys in my local area. As soon as The Final Code took over care of my website applying their innovative approach, I experienced a dramatic increase in the number of calls I received for DUI and all other criminal cases. I not only skyrocketed to the very top of DUI searches, I have maintained a consistent, top-ranked placement over the last six months. The Final Code team has a passion for helping clients that is evident in all they do. Larry, Carlo, James and team were always at the top of their game and, I felt, sincerely committed to helping me achieve real results. They went out of their way at all points to help me through the process, to aggressively make results-oriented changes, and to communicate with me in a way that made me feel valued as a client. Most importantly to me as a client, everyone at The Final Code conveyed to me that they truly cared about the welfare of my business and did so in an ongoing way. Recognizing the ever changing nature of internet marketing, the team at The Final Code has gone out of their way to keep my website fresh and at the top through expert monitoring and continual innovation. In the website business, the professionals at The Final Code are people of honor and that’s saying a lot. I whole-heartedly recommend The Final Code. You can trust the team to get you the results you want and to do so with dedication and integrity.
    Jennifer Zide Google review