Trying locate a competent search engine marketing pro can be a daunting task.
Internet marketing companies are popping up on Google by the hundreds everyday making it difficult to locate companies that are truly qualified. You should tread carefully when considering who to hire because many times the only true talent the firm will have is a savvy salesperson.
We have all fell victim to a savvy salesperson one time or another that promise the world just to get their dirty hands in your wallet and then disappear with your companies’ hard earned cash without delivering any value for your investment. No place is this more rampant today than internet marketing. As search engines are becoming the new cornerstone of attracting new customers, this creates an enormous opportunity for the cons of the world. If you are searching for a search engine marketing pro:
Beware of these 5 signs that that will almost guarantee they are under qualified or outright cons and are simply looking to make a fast buck off of you.
1. They can’t provide any references because their client relationships are confidential.
Any company that can’t provide real references that you can speak to directly, I’m not talking about just testimonials on their website, is a a sure sign you are dealing with an inferior company. People by nature love to tell others about wise decisions they have made, if they don’t have any verifiable real clients you can speak to most likely it is because no such clients exist.
2. They promise to increase sales by X amount.
Ultimately, it is your company that is the expert in your area of products or services. If your sales are struggling then most likely your pricing is off our you need to re-evaluate your competition. All a competent internet marketing company can do is bring potential customers to you, it is up to you to turn that potential customer into a sale. Promising to increase your sales is another sure sign you should hang up the phone.
3. They offer you premium internet marketing ridiculously cheap.
Search engines are extremely competitive and acquiring potential new customers from them requires serious time and effort by qualified search engine experts. If they are promising big traffic and tons of new business leads for a nominal fee IE: “SEO for only $99.00 a month!” you can rest assured you are wasting your time and money Unless their team is working for free, getting anything done of value cheaply is just not happening. There is a lot of research and time that goes into SE marketing and an effective campaign is impossible to achieve on such a tiny fee.
4. They have the “big secret” to top search engine rankings.
This is one of my favorites and such a ridiculous pitch. They tell you that they have discovered the secret to top search engine rankings and have the formula for page one results. Nobody and I mean nobody has a secret formula. Google did not become the biggest search engine in the world by creating a platform that can be cracked with some secret code. They have a team of some of the best engineers in the world dedicated full time to insuring their rankings are not manipulated.
5. They know people that work at Google and can get you on the first page.
It’s true, there are companies out there that will try to tell you they have an inside line getting to the top of Google and are willing to put in a good word for you to the engineers. Another ridiculous claim that is a 100% sure sign you should run for the hills. Do you really think Google would allow such a thing?
Use Common Sense Before Deciding to Hire A Search Engine Marketing Pro
When seeking a search engine marketing pro be sure to use common sense. Savvy salespeople far outnumber the amount of qualified search engine marketers out there and they are on the hunt for your money. They are driven by commissions and many will tell you almost anything to make that sale. Make sure you talk directly to a qualified search engine marketing consultant that can explain thoroughly what they are going to do for you in terms you can understand: